On 21/11, Phuong, his older brother Do Thanh Huy, 43, and Dao Van Hien, 41, were arrested by An Giang Provincial Police for property robbery.

Authorities identified Huy as the mastermind behind the case.

Do Van Phuong (left) at the investigative agency. Photo: Tien Tam

According to the investigation, on 20/2, a person named Toan hired Huy to transport pangasius for Tran Han One-Member Limited Liability Company from Can Tho City to Tien Giang, with a fee of 400 VND per kg. Huy dispatched two boats to collect 54 tons of fish, valued at over 1.8 billion VND.

Huy believed the factory owner and Toan intended to withhold previously owed transportation fees. This led him to plan the appropriation of the fish in transit, intending to sell it to offset the debt.

Huy instructed Hien to falsely inform the boat crew to change their itinerary, directing them to My Thoi ward, Long Xuyen ward, An Giang province. Subsequently, he coordinated with Phuong to transfer the fish to two other boats and sell it.

Dao Van Hien (left) at the investigative agency. Photo: Tien Tam

The owner of the fish shipment reported the incident to the police. Two days later, Huy, aware of the investigation, surrendered to authorities.

Expanding the case, police arrested Phuong and Hien on charges of aiding the robbery.

Ngoc Tai - Tien Tam