Three owners of significant gold and gemstone businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have been charged as part of an investigation into a smuggling ring that trafficked 30,000 diamonds. On July 14, Colonel Tống Đình Xuân, head of the Economic Police Department in Thanh Hóa Province, announced the indictment of these individuals and an employee from PNJ-LAB for their involvement in smuggling activities.

The accused include Lê Thị Ngọc Mỹ, 66, director of Kim Lý Gold and Gem Company; Nguyễn Thị Liên, 46, director of Ngọc Tâm Company; and Hoàng Thị Thanh Nga, 46, director of NCA Investment Company, who owns the Ngọc Châu Âu gold shop. While Ngọc Mỹ has been released on bail due to health issues, the other three remain in custody.

The investigation has revealed that these individuals were key players in the distribution of illegally imported diamonds, orchestrated by a group of individuals based in India through a company located in Hong Kong. This recent indictment is part of a broader operation, designated as Case 268V, which has been under investigation since early July.

Authorities have uncovered a sophisticated smuggling network that employs various tactics to bring goods into Vietnam and legalize them before sale. The investigation determined that contacts in Vietnam communicated with the Hong Kong-based group using highly secure applications to place orders for diamonds. Once a transaction was agreed upon, they would form private groups to negotiate prices, place orders, and coordinate delivery.

The diamonds were transported via air through major airports such as Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc, concealed within personal luggage, clothing, and shoes to evade customs inspections. Upon arrival in Vietnam, the delivery process was meticulously organized, with each participant only aware of their specific role. The entire operation was managed from Hong Kong, where participants used a code based on serial numbers on US dollars to confirm receipt of goods, along with automatic message deletion to erase traces of communication.

Colonel Tống Đình Xuân noted that the investigation faces numerous challenges due to the transnational nature of the crime, encrypted transactions, the small size of diamonds, and the high level of expertise required for valuation and certification. To date, authorities have indicted 31 individuals for smuggling, confiscating 1,239 diamonds along with various gold items and jewelry whose legal origins remain unverified. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to clarify the roles of other organizations and individuals involved.