On 22/8, Thuong and 9 staff members, including supervisors and cashiers, of 90's House restaurant were arrested by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department's Economic Police Division (PC03) for allegedly trading, possessing, and organizing the use of N2O (nitrous oxide).

Managers and staff at 90's House restaurant arrested. Photo: Police provided

Managers and staff at 90's House restaurant arrested. Photo: Police provided

The PC03, in coordination with Ben Thanh Ward Police (former District 1), raided 90's House on Le Thi Rieng Street. Inside several VIP rooms on the 6th and 7th floors, authorities discovered staff serving customers nitrous oxide in balloons.

Police seized 27 metal cylinders containing N2O, over 10,000 used and unused balloons, ledgers, invoices, and other related equipment.

N2O (nitrous oxide) cylinders seized by police. Photo: Police provided

N2O (nitrous oxide) cylinders seized by police. Photo: Police provided

Initial investigations indicate the establishment offered private VIP rooms for dining and music. In enclosed areas on the 6th and 7th floors, staff provided balloons filled with nitrous oxide for customers.

To evade authorities, nitrous oxide was coded in the sales software as various drinks and combos, with payments made via bank transfer. Staff had designated roles: printing invoices, collecting money, reporting revenue; serving customers and directly filling balloons; managing inventory. Transactions were recorded and reported to a Zalo group managed by Thuong.

Investigators determined that using this method, 90's House profited tens of billions of dong.

Many customers were served nitrous oxide at the restaurant. Photo: Police provided

Many customers were served nitrous oxide at the restaurant. Photo: Police provided

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Police, current laws define N2O as a chemical with restricted production and trade for industrial purposes and absolutely prohibited for human consumption. The purchase, possession, and organized use of nitrous oxide are illegal. Any acts of trading, possessing, or organizing the use of nitrous oxide for others, or aiding in these activities, will be strictly penalized under Article 190 of the Criminal Code.

Ho Chi Minh City Police urge people not to use nitrous oxide and to immediately report any instances of trading, possession, or organized use of N2O to the nearest authorities.

Quoc Thang