Ho Chi Minh City police arrest 30 when busting Facebook-based illegal firearms trafficking ring

Police officers said they had charged Nguyen Ngoc Son, 33, and 29 others with illegally manufacturing, trafficking, and possessing military-grade firearms, as well as drug trafficking and organizing illicit drug use.

All 30 suspects have been placed in temporary detention pending investigation.

Police said the investigation is continuing to identify additional suspects, trace the source of the firearms and ammunition, and determine the social media accounts used in the alleged operation.

Investigators said officers have discovered multiple Facebook accounts regularly posting photos and videos of firearms with capabilities similar to military weapons, while advertising guns, ammunition, and weapon components for sale.

Authorities determined the suspects operated an organized network that used social media to promote and conduct transactions while concealing their identities and methods from law enforcement.

Given the serious nature of the case, the division launched a dedicated investigation to dismantle the entire network.

Police identified Nguyen Ngoc Son, residing in Tan Son Nhi Ward, as the alleged ringleader, who directly assembled and modified firearms resembling military weapons.

After finishing, he test-fired them, recorded demonstration videos, and posted them on Facebook to attract buyers.

According to police, firearms and ammunition were concealed inside computer CPU cases or shipped as ordinary goods on interprovincial passenger buses.

Payments were allegedly made through bank accounts registered under other people’s names to obscure the money trail.

Between May 30 and June 6, criminal police officers, under the direction of the city’s police chief, carried out coordinated operations in Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long.

Despite suspects operating across multiple locations, frequently changing residences, and relying on online communication and other methods to evade detection, coordinated operations led to the arrest of all 30 suspects and the dismantling of the network.

Searches resulted in the seizure of 27 firearms, including 14 classified as military-grade weapons, nine partially assembled guns, nearly 100 firearm components under construction or modification, around 1,000 rounds of ammunition, metalworking equipment, computers, weapon parts, and other evidence, police said.

During the expanded investigation, criminal police also uncovered suspected drug-related offenses involving seven individuals, who are being investigated for alleged drug trafficking and organizing illegal drug use.