On May 19, the Investigation Police Agency under Hanoi Police announced it had uncovered a sophisticated gold smuggling network transporting gold from Hong Kong (China) into Vietnam by disguising it inside electronic devices.

Authorities said the case first came to light around October 2025, when investigators from the procedural assessment division under Hanoi Police detected signs of a major gold smuggling operation moving unusually large quantities of gold from Hong Kong into Vietnam.

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Suspects involved in the case. Photo: A.T.

Recognizing the seriousness of the case and the sophisticated methods used by the suspects, the Investigation Police Agency reported the matter to the Hanoi Police leadership and launched a special investigation.

After roughly six months of surveillance, police moved in on April 15 and caught members of the group allegedly trading raw gold in Bo De Ward in Hanoi.

At the scene, officers seized 5kg of gold bars along with other related evidence.

Investigators identified the alleged ringleader as a Chinese national named Chi.

According to police, after receiving orders from customers, Chi arranged for gold to be smuggled from Hong Kong into Vietnam by concealing it inside shipments of electronic equipment in an effort to evade detection.

Chi allegedly hired Do Minh Duc, 38, from Vo Cuong Ward in Bac Ninh Province, to serve as the local coordinator responsible for receiving the gold.

Duc was tasked with arranging transportation and delivering the gold to five Chinese associates working for Chi and renting accommodation in Bac Ninh.

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Evidence seized during the investigation. Photo: A.T.
 
 
 

After receiving the shipments, the group allegedly removed the concealed gold from the electronic devices, cleaned it using chemicals, then melted and recast it into raw gold before supplying customers in Bac Ninh and Hanoi.

During the investigation, Hanoi police seized more than 32kg of raw gold.

Authorities also determined that several gold shops in Hanoi had purchased smuggled gold from the network before processing it into jewelry and gold bars.

Investigators said none of the gold products involved carried invoices or legal documentation.

Initial findings suggest the group sold raw gold on the market for more than VND4 billion, or about $157,000, per kilogram.

All transaction payments were reportedly transferred to Do Minh Duc, who then forwarded the money to Chi.

In return, Duc allegedly received monthly payments ranging from VND120 million to VND150 million, equivalent to about $4,700-5,900.

According to Hanoi police, the group smuggled approximately 8,000 taels of gold into Vietnam, with an estimated total value exceeding VND1.2 trillion, or around $47 million.

Authorities described the operation as highly sophisticated, with gold hidden inside electronic equipment before being transported to warehouses in Bac Ninh.

The Investigation Police Agency under Hanoi Police is continuing to expand the investigation and clarify the roles of other individuals involved in the case.

Tien Dung