Ho Chi Minh City police charge landowner over illegal dumping of nearly 2,900 tonnes of waste

Do Hong Trinh, 57, allowed others to dispose of waste on a vacant lot she owns in An Khanh Ward in exchange for payments from October 2024, earning about VND120 million (US$4,556), according to the city’s investigative police unit.

Police said they opened the case after ward patrol officers stopped two men in separate incidents transporting waste to the site.

One was carrying about 420 kg of leaves and branches, and the other about 120 kg of leaves, styrofoam, and household garbage.

Both said they had been hired by an unidentified man to dump the waste for VND200,000–400,000 ($7.6–15.2) per load.

A subsequent assessment found more than 2,870 tonnes of waste buried across about 1,824 square meters of the property, police said.

Trinh has been charged with causing environmental pollution and has been taken into custody pending further investigation.