The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department has announced the arrest and indictment of two suspects, Ngo Thi Nhu Hue (39, a resident of District 12) and Nguyen Duc Thanh Huy (35, from Binh Dinh Province), on charges of "illegal trading of toxic substances." Hue is the head of the sales department at Nam Phuong Chemical Company.

Police investigations revealed that cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, had been used in multiple violent crimes, such as poisoning victims for robbery or settling personal disputes. This prompted concerns about the ease with which such dangerous substances were being traded, especially via social media platforms.

In light of this, on September 9, authorities in Ho Chi Minh City launched a campaign to crack down on the sale and distribution of hazardous chemicals. The campaign focused on reviewing and inspecting businesses suspected of trading dangerous chemicals and educating the public on the dangers of cyanide.

During the investigation, police in Binh Thanh District received a tip from a local TV reporter who had mistakenly received a package containing 300 grams of cyanide. Lab tests confirmed the presence of the toxic substance, prompting an urgent investigation by the authorities.

Following detailed tracking efforts, police arrested Nguyen Duc Thanh Huy, who was found in possession of over 1kg of cyanide at his residence. Huy confessed to using Facebook pages such as "Nam Phuong Chemicals" and "Electroplating Chemicals" to advertise and sell cyanide. He packaged and delivered the toxic substance to customers through delivery services.

Between March 2023 and the time of his arrest, Huy sold over 100kg of cyanide to hundreds of customers across the country. According to authorities, most buyers were unaware of the legal restrictions surrounding the use of cyanide, with many using it for purposes such as electroplating, painting, dyeing, and rodent control.

In Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas, 16 individuals purchased cyanide with the intent of committing suicide. Two of them were saved after being rushed to the hospital by family members, while the other 14 ultimately abandoned their plans and destroyed the cyanide they had purchased.

The investigation into Huy’s supply chain led authorities to arrest Ngo Thi Nhu Hue, the head of the sales department at Nam Phuong Chemical Company. Taking advantage of her position and the company’s lax oversight of hazardous chemical sales, Hue forged contracts between Nam Phuong Chemical and other partners to divert cyanide for illegal sale.

From 2019 to the present, Hue sold a total of 2.55 tons of cyanide, earning over VND373 million. Among her clients, Huy purchased cyanide to resell for illicit profit, while other buyers used it in mining and metal processing operations. Police have seized 149.2kg of cyanide from the suspects.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, including examining lapses in the management of hazardous chemical businesses by the company and relevant regulatory bodies.

Dam De