Dao Thi Trang, 32, from Le Chan ward, was recently apprehended by Hai Phong City Police, in coordination with the representative office of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Cambodian authorities. She was extradited to Vietnam after nearly four years as a fugitive.

Trang faces charges of fraud and appropriation of property under Clause 4, Article 174 of the Penal Code, filed by Hai Phong City Police in November 2022. At that time, she had already left Vietnam, and a special warrant for her arrest was issued a few days later.

Dao Thi Trang (in white) is extradited to Vietnam for investigation. Photo: Police provided

Investigations confirmed that Trang had fled to Cambodia. Fluent in English, Chinese, and Japanese, and with a high capacity for adaptation, the suspect established numerous connections with foreigners to integrate into the local community.

In Sihanoukville, a city approximately 400 km from the Moc Bai border gate and a popular destination for international visitors, Trang frequently altered her living arrangements and business activities.

At one point, she resided in the Prince Gold Bay high-rise project in Ward 4, Sihanoukville. At other times, Trang rented a house to sell banh cuon and banh mi, about one km from Phsar Leu market, which Vietnamese residents refer to as Sa Lo market. She utilized multiple phone numbers and expanded her business operations in areas with large Chinese populations.

Trang also traveled regularly to Thailand, opening restaurants and engaging in trade, never staying in one location for too long. On numerous occasions, detectives traced her whereabouts and coordinated with local police, but she had always moved to a different area before they arrived.

After an extensive period of piecing together data, from Prince Gold Bay to various eateries in Ward 4, detectives eventually located Trang hiding in the Sereypheap area of Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia.

Hai Phong City Police then exchanged information with the representative office of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in Cambodia and the host country's authorities, developing a plan to apprehend Trang.

Le Tan