Lai Chau’s criminal police rise as national heroes through fearless justice

Editor’s note: In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, crime is becoming more sophisticated and complex, posing unprecedented challenges. The battle for public safety demands not only courage from the People's Public Security forces but also sharp intellect, strategic thinking, and unwavering resolve.

This series honors heroic units within the armed forces, portraying those at the forefront of the fight for peace. They are the “iron fists” working day and night with innovation and courage to protect the people.

When Lai Chau province was re-established in 2004, it was seen as a “low ground” for security, plagued by crimes such as domestic violence, superstition, and social disorder. The local police force was understaffed, terrain was treacherous, and resources were limited.

One of the most striking challenges was case 315G. On February 21, 2015 (the second day of Lunar New Year), Lai Chau’s Criminal Police Division received a report of a body found in Sin Suoi Ho commune.

The case was an extremely complex puzzle. It occurred in a remote border area with language barriers, poor infrastructure, and a victim who had died 7–10 days prior with no identifiable clues. The case risked fueling ethnic tensions.

However, within just 48 hours, by 11:30 a.m. on February 22, police arrested suspect Hang A Vu, who confessed to murdering the victim out of suspicion that the man had used black magic to kill his two children.

It was in this challenging environment that Lai Chau’s criminal police force adopted a transformational mindset in 2015: shifting from a reactive stance to proactive crime prevention, relying on community engagement to uphold public order.

This new approach proved effective in many cases. For example, on January 11, 2023, officers arrested Lu Xuan Minh (age 23) for murder and robbery. Just days earlier, on January 7, the body of motorbike taxi driver Vu Van Y (age 44, from Bac Giang) was discovered in a rubber plantation in Phong Tho district with multiple stab wounds.

Recognizing the severity of the case, police formed a task force involving border guards and local citizens. After 96 hours of intensive search, including 84 hours of tracking Minh through the forest, he was captured. He admitted to hiring the victim in Bac Ninh, then stabbing him 13 times with a premeditated weapon to steal his motorbike and belongings.

While case 315G demonstrated local control, case 128T showcased Lai Chau police’s strategic ingenuity and investigative speed.

Nguyen Van Nam, a professional criminal wanted by four provincial police departments, had committed 23 gold shop burglaries in 11 provinces over several years.

At dawn on December 6, 2018, Nam broke into the “Tuan Tuyen” gold store in Lai Chau and stole approximately 300 taels of gold. A special investigative unit with 60 officers was immediately established.

Nam’s methods were extremely meticulous: wearing masks, avoiding cameras, and constantly moving. Investigators identified 20 suspects and applied advanced investigative tactics. Within four days, on December 10, they began narrowing in on the target.

By December 20, just 14 days after the theft, police in cooperation with national and Lao Cai authorities arrested Nam in Nghia Lo Ward, Lao Cai Province.

Initially, Nam only confessed to the Lai Chau incident. However, with intelligent questioning and compelling evidence, investigators secured his confession to all 23 burglaries.

In total, Lai Chau police solved 24 cases in 12 provinces, with losses exceeding 54 billion VND (over $2.2 million). Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, sent a personal commendation letter for this outstanding achievement.

While case 128T displayed strategic acumen, the cross-border operations in Cambodia revealed Lai Chau police’s international reach and courage.

One major success was case 0924L. On June 3, 2024, Pham Van Bac, a barber from Tan Uyen, was scammed out of 200 million VND (around $8,100) in a fake customs car sale scheme, with fraudsters even forging a VTV1 news broadcast to appear credible.

Police tracked the ring across 16 provinces, arresting six suspects in Vietnam, including tech-savvy scammer Kieu Quang Son. However, the operation’s base was in Cambodia.

Lai Chau’s criminal police faced an unprecedented task: conducting an international raid.

Led by Colonel Pham Hai Dang, Deputy Director of Lai Chau Police, the unit had to convince Cambodian authorities with evidence, precise locations, and a credible action plan.

The target: Room 6-808 in the Venus 2 complex, Bavet City - a massive enclave housing thousands. The mission required speed, certainty, and precise execution.

At 10 a.m. on December 11, 2024, officers launched a five-hour raid, capturing 12 shocked suspects. They never imagined Vietnamese police would cross the border to arrest them.

Colonel Dang later shared his sorrow when hearing Vietnamese suspects use slang like “kill the guest” to describe scamming fellow citizens.

On October 29, 2025, Lai Chau police announced the successful takedown of case 0525L. Under the direction of Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long, officers teamed up with Cambodian forces to raid a hideout in Bokor Hill, Kampot Province.

They arrested 59 Vietnamese suspects, led by Sung Thi Mai (26, from Lao Cai). The group posed as delivery personnel, police, and soldiers to scam over 8,000 victims nationwide out of more than 300 billion VND (around $12.2 million).

The Ministry of Public Security recognized the raids for not only preventing countless future victims but also strengthening bilateral cooperation with Cambodian law enforcement.

Lai Chau’s criminal police have also tackled politically sensitive and complex “side-track” cases, proving their resolve to pursue justice with no exceptions.

From case 0323G (illegal gambling), investigators uncovered bribery within the provincial Inspectorate.

This was a high-stakes battle. Most suspects held official titles and tried to obstruct the investigation. Provincial Chief Inspector Nguyen Thanh Tri denied all charges when summoned.

But with creative investigative techniques and support from national authorities, investigators secured Tri’s confession.

In another case involving weapons management violations, police uncovered bribery in the issuance of explosives permits by the Department of Industry and Trade. Both Deputy Director Nguyen Trong Thuc and Department Head Vu Van Hinh were arrested.

These cases underscore the force’s firm stance: no forbidden zones, no immunity.

What is the “secret weapon” behind this mountain province police unit’s ability to tackle national-level cases?

According to Lieutenant Colonel Vu Tien Van, Head of the Criminal Police Division (PC02), it is the “people’s trust” and the guiding philosophy of “relying on the people to carry out the mission.”