Major military weapons trafficking ring broken up, 42 arrested in Nghe An
VOV.VN- Police in Nghe An province, central Vietnam have dismantled a large-scale online ring involved in the illegal manufacture and trafficking of military weapons, arresting 42 individuals in the initial phase.
This is the largest case to date involving the illegal manufacture, sale and possession of military weapons.
Investigators found that the ring operated in an organized and professional manner, with activities spanning multiple provinces and cities nationwide. The individuals involved used fake online accounts to advertise and trade weapons and related components on social media platforms.
The ring was led by Le Thanh Hung (born 1994, residing in Quang Ngai province) and Sam Thi Thom (born 1985, residing in Ho Chi Minh City), who coordinated closely and divided roles across the supply chain, from production to customer outreach.
Between August 2024 and December 2025, the network recruited dozens of accomplices, distributed hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition along with various military weapon components, and generated illicit profits amounting to hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong.
After the Ministry of Public Security launched a nationwide crime suppression campaign from December 15, 2025, the group attempted to suspend operations to evade law enforcement. Police moved swiftly to dismantle the ring to prevent the concealment or disposal of evidence.
From December 15 to 24, 2025, Nghe An provincial police, in coordination with law enforcement agencies in other localities, carried out simultaneous arrests and emergency searches, detaining 42 individuals across multiple provinces and cities.
Seized items included 64 military-grade firearms, 28,720 rounds of ammunition classified as military weapons, 24 support weapons, 1,260 steel and rubber bullets, along with laptops, mobile phones and other related materials.
The Investigation Police Agency of Nghe An provincial police has filed criminal charges against 38 defendants for the illegal manufacture, possession, transportation, use and trafficking of military weapons and military technical equipment, and is continuing to expand the investigation.
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