On 28/7, the Environmental Crime Prevention and Control Police Department (C05) of the Ministry of Public Security announced that Hai Phong City Police had initiated legal proceedings against 18 defendants in three cases. The charges include smuggling, illegal cross-border transport of goods, illegal invoice printing and issuance, tax evasion, and giving and receiving bribes. Police initially proved the total value of smuggled goods to be nearly 1,000 billion Vietnamese dong, with more than 40 billion Vietnamese dong in evaded taxes and 2,3 billion Vietnamese dong in bribes given and received. Across both phases of the special investigation, police seized more than 30 tons of seafood, 20 vehicles of various types, and 10 billion Vietnamese dong in cash.

Police working with suspects. Photo: C05 provided

Police working with suspects. Photo: C05 provided

The cases originated from a special investigation targeting Nguyen Kim Oanh, 43 years old, from Quang Ninh, who played a key role in "border protection" by facilitating illegal crossings. Oanh's support group included ferry operators, drivers, loaders, goods checkers, accountants, and a protection detail. From early 2025 until its discovery, Oanh's ring conducted approximately 630 smuggling trips, illegally transporting 4,400 tons of mud crabs and pork udder across the border without veterinary quarantine. The total value of these goods was about 400 billion Vietnamese dong. During the bust, police seized five vehicles, two motorized makeshift rafts, 2,7 billion Vietnamese dong in cash, and about 30 tons of goods valued at 3 billion Vietnamese dong.

Defendant Nguyen Kim Oanh is accused of smuggling and illegal cross-border transport of goods. Photo: C05 provided

Defendant Nguyen Kim Oanh is accused of smuggling and illegal cross-border transport of goods. Photo: C05 provided

Expanding the investigation, C05 further dismantled a group involved in illegal invoice printing, bribery, and smuggling at Sy Hung Seafood Company Limited, directed by Nguyen Thi Thu, and its related network of companies. Thu involved numerous family members, including her husband, siblings, son, daughter-in-law, and nephews, in the criminal ring's operations. This group also colluded with several officials from functional forces in the quarantine sector to protect their illicit activities. Initially, C05 determined that from 2024 until its discovery, Thu's ring and its accomplices had smuggled goods valued at about 1,000 billion Vietnamese dong, evaded more than 40 billion Vietnamese dong in taxes, given and received over 2,3 billion Vietnamese dong in bribes, and illegally issued invoices with a turnover exceeding 900 billion Vietnamese dong.

During searches, police seized 13 vehicles, 16 tons of goods valued at about 4 billion Vietnamese dong, cash and assets worth about 10 billion Vietnamese dong, along with various related documents. For this group, Thu was charged with four offenses: illegal invoice printing and issuance, tax evasion, smuggling, and giving bribes. Four people were accused of illegal invoice printing and issuance; one person for smuggling; two people for giving bribes; and six people for receiving bribes.

Seized evidence. Photo: C05 provided

Seized evidence. Photo: C05 provided

C05 assessed this as a sophisticated criminal ring operating online, using social networks like WeChat and Viber for communication and transactions. The defendants showed close collusion and operated across multiple provinces. The suspect group also colluded with several functional force officials to protect and cover up their criminal acts.

Following the success of the special investigation, on 24/7, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister and Head of the Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security, sent a letter of commendation to C05 and Hai Phong City Police. "Your comrades' achievements promptly prevented violations, eliminated risks of state asset loss, and protected food quality and public health. This contributes to safeguarding the lives, health, legitimate rights, and interests of the people, maintaining a safe and healthy living environment," the Deputy Minister wrote.