WATCH CLIP:

On January 21, Ho Chi Minh City Police said that the Investigation Police Agency of District 12 Police has just issued a decision to prosecute the case, a decision to prosecute the accused, and an arrest warrant to temporarily detain 4 subjects: Tran Tan Hoa (alias Bi Thai Tu, 35 years old), Tran Xuan Giang (31 years old, both from Binh Duong ), Le Viet Nhat Minh (31 years old, residing in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) and Tran Thai Thanh Phuong (35 years old, from Dong Nai) for the crime of "Storing and transporting prohibited goods". The above decisions and warrants have been approved by the People's Procuracy at the same level.

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Group of 4 arrested subjects. Photo: CA

Previously, through professional work, District 12 Police discovered a group of suspects storing and transporting prohibited goods, including firecrackers, operating in the area, so they focused on investigating. During the reconnaissance process, it was clear that the leader was Tran Tan Hoa.

On January 9, District 12 police ambushed and blocked the road to conduct an administrative check on Hoa on Ha Huy Giap Street, Thanh Loc Ward, District 12. The police discovered in the cargo Hoa was carrying on the vehicle 15 bags of ball-shaped firecrackers and 2 sets of 49-round fireworks. All of these goods were of unknown origin.

Searching Hoa's residence, the police seized 10 more bags of ball-shaped fireworks and 9 sets of 49-round fireworks.

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Fireworks of various types seized by the police. Photo: CA

Hoa confessed that he bought a large quantity of firecrackers and then resold them to others at a higher price to make a profit. Immediately after that, District 12 Police initiated a case of “Storing and transporting prohibited goods” to focus on investigation and prosecution.

Determining that the case was complicated with the participation of many subjects, inter-provincial activities and the possibility of them transporting and trading illegal fireworks in very large quantities, the Board of Directors of Ho Chi Minh City Police Department directed District 12 Police to establish a special project to fight. The special project team determined that Minh, Giang, and Phuong were involved.

On the afternoon of January 11, the task force stopped and inspected two cars of the subjects in the area of Vinh Phu 30 Street, Vinh Phu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province. Notably, when they saw that they were being ambushed, the 11 subjects threw out a metal gun-shaped object to destroy the evidence.

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The car used by the subjects to transport firecrackers. Photo: CA

Upon inspection, the police discovered that the two vehicles were carrying 10 cartons containing 100 fireworks and 104 packages containing ball-shaped fireworks, with a total weight of nearly 350kg of fireworks and a metal gun-shaped object. The police brought Minh, Giang, and Phuong in for questioning.

The three subjects confessed that they were transporting firecrackers to deliver to customers. The car behind was carrying the firecrackers, while the car in front was keeping watch. If authorities were to check or discover them, they would immediately notify them. However, the group was arrested when they reached Vinh Phu 30 Street.

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Police appraised the gun to strengthen the case file. Photo: CA

According to the police, this is a group of subjects with many criminal records, experience in dealing with the police force when discovered, and assigned specific roles to escape when ambushed. The Criminal Investigation Department of District 12 Police continues to consolidate evidence, expand the investigation, and identify related subjects.