On 14/3, the Department of Criminal Police, Ministry of Public Security (C02), issued its investigation conclusion, recommending the prosecution of Pham Anh Tai (Tai "Den"), 36, and Le Van An, 35, for robbery, illegal storage and use of military weapons, and money laundering.

The conclusion by C02 comes nearly two months after Tai and An committed a 1.85 billion dong robbery at the Tra Ba transaction office of Vietcombank in Gia Lai province.

C02 stated that issuing the investigation conclusion promptly demonstrates its resolve in combating, clarifying, and concluding this serious major case, following the consistent directive of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister and Head of the Investigation Agency, Ministry of Public Security.

In addition to this case, C02 has determined that Tai, An, and their accomplices were involved in murder, robbery, extortion, illegal storage and use of military weapons, and concealing crimes in other particularly serious cases. C02 is coordinating with the police of Quang Ngai and Gia Lai provinces to continue clarifying these matters.

Tai "Den" (right) and An at the time of their arrest. *Photo: Police provided*

According to the investigation conclusion, Tai "Den" is a notorious gangster who has been wanted since 2018 for allegedly shooting two people dead with an AK rifle at a bar, along with his associates. Despite both being wanted and sought by police, Tai and An maintained regular contact.

In October 2025, Tai invited An to participate in a bank robbery. They surveyed the location and prepared a plan. After establishing an escape route, they chose the Tra Ba transaction office as their target.

The two suspects agreed to use motorcycles but planned to change license plates, paint colors, and use multiple types of vehicles. Tai gave An money to buy vehicles, clothing, hoes, shovels, planks, and other items. Tai prepared the guns and ammunition.

Around 3:30 p.m. on 19/1, An drove an Exciter motorcycle with a fake license plate and waited for Tai at the transaction office. Tai entered first, sitting on a chair to the right of the entrance. An followed. After observing for about two minutes, Tai stood up, approached the teller counter, removed his wool gloves, and pointed a gun at the staff, shouting loudly, "stand still, stand still".

Simultaneously, An pulled a gun from his crossbody bag and yelled, "everyone sit still or I'll shoot". As employees panicked and ran out, Tai climbed over the teller counter partition and threw stacks of money to the outside. Behind him, An collected the money into a backpack, and then both fled.

Colonel Le Khac Son, Deputy Director and Deputy Head of the Investigation Agency, Ministry of Public Security, takes testimony from Le Van An. *Photo: Police provided*

The total amount stolen was 1.85 billion dong, in denominations from 50,000 to 500,000 dong. On the afternoon of 21/1, Tai and An went their separate ways, each taking 910 million dong.

Subsequently, on the evening of 4/2 and the afternoon of 5/2, An and Tai were arrested "without a single shot fired".

During a search of Tai's residence, police seized four handguns, 45 bullets, two electric batons, 107 million dong in cash, two gold rings, and numerous related items and documents. At An's residence, police recovered one gun and 830 million dong in cash.

Pham Du