The Investigation Police Agency under Hanoi Police has launched criminal proceedings and charged seven suspects, including five Chinese nationals, on charges of smuggling.

According to investigators, the case marks the largest gold smuggling network involving foreign nationals ever uncovered in the Vietnamese capital.

The operation began in October 2025 after investigators discovered signs of a sophisticated smuggling network transporting large quantities of gold from Hong Kong (China) into Vietnam.

Given the scale and complexity of the case, Hanoi police established a special investigation team to monitor the group’s activities and trace its operational methods.

After nearly six months of surveillance and coordinated investigative measures, police caught the suspects during a gold transaction in Bo De ward, Hanoi, confiscating 5 kilograms of gold bars and related evidence at the scene.

Initial investigations identified a Chinese national as the alleged ringleader. The group smuggled gold from Hong Kong into Vietnam by concealing it inside electronic equipment to evade customs inspections.

In Vietnam, they hired Do Minh Duc, a resident of Bac Ninh province, to receive and distribute the smuggled gold. Because Duc had previously studied in China and spoke fluent Chinese, he was tasked with arranging transportation and coordinating deliveries to a network of five Chinese associates living in Bac Ninh.

At the police station, Duc admitted he became aware the shipments contained smuggled gold but continued participating because of the unusually high payments, reportedly ranging from VND150 million to VND200 million (US$5,800–7,700) per month.

Investigators said the suspects frequently changed transportation routes and delivery methods to avoid detection. After receiving shipments, the group extracted the concealed gold, cleaned it using chemicals, melted it down and recast it into raw gold bars before distributing it to buyers in Hanoi and Bac Ninh.

Police also said all transaction payments were funneled through Duc, who then used cryptocurrency transactions to transfer money to accounts designated by the alleged ringleader.

Authorities estimate the group sold smuggled gold at more than VND4 billion (about US$154,000) per kilogram. From March 2026 until their arrest, the suspects are believed to have trafficked around 300 kilograms of gold.

The investigation is ongoing, and Hanoi police said they are continuing to expand the case and clarify the roles of related individuals.

Foreign national caught smuggling gold through Mong Cai border gate

VOV.VN - Authorities at Mong Cai International Border Gate, Quang Ninh province, have detained a foreign national for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 750 grams of gold into Vietnam while completing immigration procedures.