Thanh Hoa (VNA) - A total of 22 suspects were prosecuted and 1,100 diamonds were seized in a large-scale transnational diamond-smuggling ring, according to the Investigation Police Agency under Thanh Hoa province’s Department of Public Security.
The total revenue from diamonds already sold on the market is estimated at approximately 280 billion VND (10.6 million USD), the agency said on July 2.
The ring was directed from abroad, the police said.
Investigations identified the ringleader as an Indian national residing and working in Hong Kong (China).
The suspects collected diamonds in India, consolidated them in Hong Kong, and then organised their illicit transport into Vietnam for sale.
To date, investigators have clarified the roles of several key links in the network.
Among them, Abhishek Deepak Patel, 32, an Indian national, was identified as responsible for managing goods and sales proceeds for the ring in Vietnam.
Trinh Quang Chung, 42, residing in Tran Bien ward, the southern city of Dong Nai, was the Vietnamese individual who received diamonds in Hong Kong and then smuggled them into Vietnam.
After the goods were brought into the country, Dang Ngoc Son, 21, residing in Go Vap ward, Ho Chi Minh City, received them from Chung and organised transportation and distribution to buyers in Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, and Hanoi.
Tran Thi Hang, 41, residing in Nhieu Loc ward, Ho Chi Minh City, served as a contact who took diamonds from Chung for onward distribution to agents and subordinate retail outlets.
Based on documents and evidence gathered, the Thanh Hoa Police, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Police, have arrested 22 suspects for questioning and to clarify the criminal acts.
Police searched 20 sites – including jewellery businesses and the suspects’ residences – and seized 1,100 diamonds of various kinds, together with numerous documents, electronic data, transaction records, storage devices and other items serving the investigation.
The police determined that, from 2024, this ring has completed 141 shipments, smuggling more than 28,000 diamonds of various types from Hong Kong (China) into Vietnam for sale.
The police is continuing to broaden the investigation.
They advise the public to purchase diamonds only from reputable, clearly identified, licensed businesses with a recognised market presence and with full invoices, receipts and quality certificates issued by reputable appraisal organisations.
They warn against trusting unusually cheap diamond offers, high-yield investment schemes involving buying, consigning or investing in diamonds on social media or on online trading platforms of unknown origin. /.
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