Cuong was recently indicted and detained by the Quang Ninh Provincial Police Investigation Agency for violating resource exploitation regulations, under clause 2, article 227 of the Penal Code.

In the same case, police also indicted and detained Luu Chi Hieu and Bui Quang Chung, employees of Quan Minh Company, to investigate two crimes: organizing illegal drug use and possessing military weapons. Suspects Hieu and Chung have extensive criminal records.

According to police, Cuong recruited many notorious individuals with criminal records for murder, intentional injury, and drug offenses to work as security guards, overseeing sand exploitation in the Van Don special administrative-economic zone.

Quan Minh Company was licensed to exploit silica sand over an area of 17,27 square kilometers. *Photo: Quan Minh*

Police described the case as complex. The investigation aims to severely punish those who profit from national resources.

Authorities urged suspects involved in wrongdoing to voluntarily come forward to the investigation agency to report and surrender, in exchange for leniency.

Most recently, the Quang Ninh Provincial Police sent a written request to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to provide all legal documents related to the silica sand exploitation project in Quan Lan and Ngoc Vung communes, formerly part of Van Don district. This project was granted to Quan Minh Company to exploit silica sand over an area of 17,27 square kilometers, with a minimum excavation depth of -9,5 meters.

Quan Minh Company Limited was established in 2005, based on a business registration certificate issued by Quang Ninh authorities. Its primary business activities include: investment, construction, production of building materials, aquaculture, afforestation and forest product processing, and urban development investment.

Quan Minh gained prominence for owning the Ocean Park urban residential project in the Van Don special administrative-economic zone, located near the coast. Following controversies, in 9/2025, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Court issued a decision to initiate bankruptcy proceedings for Quan Minh. A bank subsequently foreclosed on 443 Ocean Park land plots and a silica sand mine in Van Don to recover an estimated debt of nearly 445 billion VND from the company.

Pham Du - Le Tan