On 30/6, Son and 29 others were indicted and detained by the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of Ho Chi Minh City Police for investigation into charges of manufacturing, trading, and illegally possessing military-grade weapons; illegally trading narcotics; and organizing the illegal use of narcotics.

Nguyen Ngoc Son led the ring. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

This action occurred during a 45-day crime suppression campaign, directed by the Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police.

Earlier, through intelligence gathering, PC02 forces detected numerous Facebook users regularly posting images and videos of guns and trading weapon components in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. Recognizing the large-scale, inter-provincial operation of this ring, the investigative agency launched a specialized operation to dismantle it.

According to the investigation, Son led the ring. He directly assembled and manufactured many firearms with shapes and features similar to military-grade weapons. After completion, Son test-fired them, recorded videos, and then posted them on social media to market to interested buyers.

To conceal their activities and evade authorities, the group disguised guns and ammunition inside computer CPU cases or other goods and shipped them via inter-provincial passenger buses. Transaction money was handled through other people's bank accounts to erase traces.

Guns, ammunition, and weapons seized by police. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

From 30/5 to 6/6, PC02 mobilized forces, coordinating with police in Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long to simultaneously raid multiple locations. Despite the group's dispersed operations, frequent changes of residence, and use of cyberspace for communication, the special task force arrested more than 30 individuals, dismantling the entire ring.

At the scene, authorities seized 27 firearms (including 14 military-grade weapons), 9 guns currently being assembled, and nearly 100 gun parts being modified. Additionally, police confiscated 1,000 rounds of various ammunition, multiple drills, cutting machines, grinding machines, metalworking equipment, and tools used for manufacturing firearms.

During the expansion of the case, PC02 discovered and criminally prosecuted 7 individuals involved in the operation for illegal drug trading and organizing drug use. The investigative agency is currently tracing the supply sources of weapons, ammunition, drugs, and other related individuals for thorough processing.

Ho Chi Minh City Police stated that dismantling this ring early successfully prevented a large number of military-grade weapons from spreading into society, thus preventing them from being used to commit serious crimes.

Authorities advise citizens not to participate in the trading, possession, or manufacturing of weapons, and to proactively report any suspicious online groups to the police.

Quoc Thang