On the afternoon of November 12, Ho Chi Minh City Police held a conference to review the implementation of Plan No. 3380/KH-CATP, titled “Strengthening prevention, management, and response to illegal activities related to the trade of hazardous and toxic chemicals in the city.”

Major General Mai Hoang, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, chaired the meeting.

Through investigative efforts, Ho Chi Minh City Police identified significant gaps in the management of toxic chemical sales, particularly cyanide, with illegal trading rampant both at chemical markets and online.

In addition to illegal cyanide sales for mining, electroplating, and metalworking, police also recorded several instances of murder, robbery, and suicide involving the illicit purchase of cyanide. This led to the development and initiation of Plan 3380 on September 9, 2024.

After two months of implementation, investigative units of the Ho Chi Minh City Police have prosecuted six cases involving 31 individuals for “illegal trading and storage of toxic substances,” seizing over 9.7 tons of cyanide, 315 kg of sulfuric acid, and 105 kg of hydrochloric acid. Investigations have extended to multiple provinces, with an additional 313.5 kg of cyanide recovered.

In early September, based on public tips, local police units in the city discovered and prosecuted five cases involving 17 suspects, seizing over 9.4 tons of cyanide, 105 kg of hydrochloric acid, and other materials.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police, in cooperation with District 5 Police, inspected 21 businesses at the Kim Bien Chemical Market.

The inspection led to the prosecution of three cases involving six suspects for “illegal trading and storage of toxic substances,” with 1.2 kg of cyanide seized.

In one case, a suicide involving cyanide led Binh Thanh District Police to uncover a ring that used a chemical company as cover for widespread cyanide distribution, resulting in the seizure of 3,950 kg of cyanide.

In mid-October, District 12 Police, in collaboration with the Economic Crime Division, inspected a company in Tan Hung Thuan Ward and found cyanide trading activities far exceeding the authorized scale, with multiple signs of legal violations. Eleven suspects have been prosecuted and detained in connection with the case.

From these investigations, Ho Chi Minh City Police have established task forces and coordinated with police in 11 provinces, conducting 43 searches and investigating seven cases, recovering 135 kg of illegally traded cyanide from customers.

Dam De