On 8/1, Kiet and 60 others were arrested by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Criminal Investigation Department for trading prohibited goods.
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Tran Tuan Kiet and some accomplices. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police |
Tran Tuan Kiet and some accomplices. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Previously, in 7/2025, police caught two individuals in the act of trading 20 canisters of laughing gas (N2O) in the parking basement of a business establishment in Phu Thuan ward, District 7.
Following leads from those involved, investigators identified Kiet as the ringleader. The operation was highly organized, employing sophisticated methods over a long period. This group supplied laughing gas to numerous bars, pubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues across the city.
During raids on the group's warehouses and residences, police seized 1,563 metal canisters containing N2O, three large storage tanks with a capacity of about 30 tons, along with 12 cars and 5 motorcycles. Authorities also temporarily seized tens of billions of VND in cash, along with numerous ledgers and electronic data related to the criminal activity.
Police arrested 60 people and raided numerous laughing gas warehouses. Video: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Methods of concealing significant financial flows
Investigation results revealed that Kiet procured laughing gas from various sources, transported it to Ho Chi Minh City by trucks or North-South passenger buses, and decanted it from large tanks into smaller canisters. He established a system of warehouses at multiple locations; the warehouse in Phu Thuan ward served as the primary collection and decanting point.
To evade police detection, Kiet's group used methods such as conducting transactions via social media, employing encrypted messaging applications, and creating chat groups with specific coded symbols for communication and ordering.
The group also erased financial trails by transferring money through multiple bank accounts registered under relatives' or employees' names, circulating it through numerous intermediaries, or withdrawing cash.
Data indicates that from 1/1 to 7/7/2025, Kiet illicitly profited nearly 106 billion VND from the trading of laughing gas.
The investigation agency continues to expand the case, clarifying the responsibilities of individuals and entertainment venues consuming laughing gas.
By Quoc Thang
