Smoke and dust engulf residents near Duc Giang

Even from a distance, the acrid smell and thick, polluted air around the Duc Giang - Lao Cai chemical plant in Tang Loong Industrial Park are palpable.

{"caption_all":"Duc Giang - Lao Cai Chemical Company Limited, part of Duc Giang Chemical Group (DGC), is located in Tang Loong Industrial Park, Tang Loong commune, Lao Cai province. Recently, the Police Investigation Department for Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crimes (C03, Ministry of Public Security) initiated legal proceedings and temporarily detained Dao Huu Huyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Duc Giang Chemical Group and Chairman of the Board of Members of Duc Giang - Lao Cai Chemical Company Limited, on three charges: violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences, violating resource exploitation regulations, and causing environmental pollution. nnHuyen’s son, Dao Huu Duy Anh, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and former General Director of Duc Giang Chemical Group, was arrested for violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.","caption_items":"["",""]"}

{"caption_all":"On the afternoon of 24/3, smoke from the factory formed a thick, hazy layer. From afar, the sky appeared murky, like early morning fog. Even more than one km away, residents clearly felt dust on their faces and a strong, pungent, acrid odor. nnDuc Giang - Lao Cai is one of the largest factories in Tang Loong Industrial Park.","caption_items":"["","",""]"}

Dump trucks carrying soil, rocks, materials, and waste slag continuously travel day and night on many local roads, originating from the factory area.

A resident living along the road in Muong one village, Gia Phu commune (formerly Xuan Giao commune), stated that her family must keep their doors closed 24/24 due to the unbearable smoke, dust, and noise from vehicles. The pungent, acrid smell of phosphorus and fertilizer, emanating not only from the Duc Giang plant but also from neighboring factories, causes nasal congestion.

"We do not dare to hang clothes outside because they turn discolored in a short time. Trees and vegetables cannot grow due to the pollution. Every weekend, my family has to evacuate to our home in the countryside, about 10 km away, to escape the suffocating atmosphere", she said.

At the chemical production plant, white, black, and yellow smoke plumes tens of meters high are thick and dense. The air is heavy with a strong odor. Trees in the vicinity are covered with thick layers of dust.

Local residents report that for many years, they have not heard cicadas in the summer, and birds are rarely seen. People also no longer see fish in the lakes around Tang Loong. When working in agriculture, residents do not dare to wash their hands in stream water due to the pollution and foul smell.

C03 initially determined that Duc Giang Chemical Group had "caused environmental pollution," severely affecting the lives of local residents.

The group also illegally exploited hundreds of thousands of tons of Apatite ore, valued at hundreds of billions of dong. Furthermore, Duc Giang allegedly kept revenue off its accounting books, concealing income and causing tens of billions of dong in tax losses to state assets.

A massive open-air waste dump sits on the mountainside. Even a light breeze sends dust swirling through the air.

Police determined that the company illegally dumped millions of tons of waste over tens of hectares in Tang Loong Industrial Park.

{"caption_all":"Ms. Le Thi Huong, a beverage shop owner at the Tang Loong town intersection, said that on many rainy days, with high humidity, people noticed a strong fishy smell and a pungent, acrid odor. Sulfur was scattered all over the road. nnHaving lived right next to the factory for several decades, she has become accustomed to the pollution. Two years ago, due to numerous complaints from residents, her family received compensation to relocate, but the amount was not enough to establish a new life, so they still have to stay around to earn a living.","caption_items":"["",""]"}

Established in 1963 and privatized in 2003, Duc Giang Chemical Group is considered one of the leading enterprises in phosphorus and basic chemical production.

In addition to the Chairman of Duc Giang and his son, defendant Pham Van Hung, Director of Duc Giang - Lao Cai Chemical Company Limited, was also arrested on charges of violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences and causing environmental pollution.

Trinh Quoc Khanh, Director; An Van Bang, Director of Mine 25; and Nguyen Thi Huong, Chief Accountant of Duc Giang Chemical Group, Lao Cai branch, were prosecuted for violating resource exploitation regulations.

"The aforementioned violations at Duc Giang Chemical Group occurred over a long period, causing public outrage", C03 stated, adding that it is expanding the investigation to comprehensively and thoroughly address the organized violations by the defendants and related organizations and individuals.

{"caption_all":"Tang Loong Industrial Park is one of Lao Cai province's key industrial centers, spanning 1,100 ha with 28 registered investment projects, and nearly 20 factories already in operation. This area hosts numerous intertwined factories for mining, industrial production, chemicals, and fertilizers. Among them, several large-capacity plants focus on apatite ore processing, phosphorus, and urea fertilizer. nnThe issue of environmental pollution in Tang Loong Industrial Park has been a "hot" topic in many meetings of the Provincial and District People's Councils, and even during voter outreach sessions by National Assembly delegates in the area over recent years.","caption_items":"["",""]"}