Pham Anh Tai, 36, and Le Van An, 35, both hailing from Quang Ngai province, were arrested on February 5 while hiding in Kon Tum ward, Quang Ngai province. Police recovered four firearms and other items believed to be linked to the robbery.

Notably, Tai, alias “Tai Den”, is considered a particularly dangerous fugitive who had been on the wanted list for murder since 2018 and was known to frequently carry firearms, police said at a press briefing on February 6.

Preliminary investigations showed the suspects admitted to robbing the Tra Ba transaction office of Vietcombank’s Gia Lai branch at 133 Truong Chinh Street, Hoi Phu ward, January 19.

At around 3:30 p.m. that day, two men wearing ride-hailing company uniforms and helmets and covering their faces stormed into the bank.

One suspect stood at the entrance to block people from entering or leaving, while the other threatened staff and customers with an object resembling a gun. The pair then took about VND1.8 billion (US$71,000), placed it in a prepared bag and fled on a motorbike towards National Highway 14.

Police revealed the two suspects had carefully planned the robbery, travelling from former Kon Tum province to Gia Lai province to study the area, identify escape routes and prepare to destroy evidence.

Tai also admitted to being responsible for a murder at a bar in Kon Tum city in August 2018.

Searches of their residences led to the seizure of four handguns, 46 rounds of ammunition, about one kilogram of lead pellets, around VND930 million in cash, two gold rings and other related evidence.

Police said investigations are continuing and the suspects will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Police hunt suspects of bank robbery in Gia Lai

VOV.VN - Police are searching for two suspects following a bank robbery at a Vietcombank branch in Gia Lai province, central Vietnam, on January 19.