Dismantling a large-scale illegal sand mining ring in Uong Bi

On October 14, the Investigation Police Agency, Quang Ninh Provincial Police, announced that it had detained 8 subjects for violating regulations on resource exploitation.

Previously, on the evening of October 10, reconnaissance teams approached and caught a group of people illegally mining sand in the area along the banks of the 3-door canal, Vanh Kieu lagoon, the exit to Da Bac river, in the border area between Phuong Nam ward and Phuong Dong ward, Uong Bi city (Quang Ninh).

At the scene, authorities discovered nearly 20 subjects and 5 watercraft of various types with and without license plates, equipped with sand suction and screening systems, pumping sand from the riverbed into the ship's hold.

Quang Ninh Provincial Police have arrested three groups of people who illegally mined, transported and sold sand.

Initially, the Investigation Police Agency determined that taking advantage of the local government's permission to rent water surface for aquaculture, Phung Van Khanh (born in 1972, residing in Group 1, Hop Thanh area, Phuong Nam ward, Uong Bi city) colluded with many subjects in other provinces and cities to illegally exploit sand in the area along the banks of the 3-door canal and Vanh Kieu lagoon of Uong Bi city.

In addition to Phung Van Khanh, the remaining 7 subjects include Thai Huy Binh (born in 1982, residing in Thanh Son ward, Uong Bi city), Do Van Huu (born in 1988, residing in Xuan Bac commune, Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province), Nguyen Thanh Giang (born in 1995, residing in Van Duc ward, Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province), Doan Xuan Chien (born in 1987, residing in Xuan Giang commune, Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province), Vu Ngoc Diep (born in 1982, residing in Xuan Bac commune, Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province), Ung Xuan Truong (born in 1986, residing in Nam Trieu commune, Phu Xuyen district, Hanoi city) and Vu Van Cuong (born in 1988, residing in Duong Duc commune, Lang Giang district, Bac Giang province).

The police investigation agency determined that Phung Van Khanh and Thai Huy Binh were the ringleaders, directly contacting and hiring people, organizing illegal sand mining as well as managing and measuring the amount of sand mined every day. These two subjects directed Do Van Huu and his accomplices to commit crimes, then sell and collect money from sand buyers.

The remaining subjects actively assisted in the exploitation, directly controlling the ships, operating the sand suction machines and pumping them onto ships for sale. From the time of operation until being discovered, the above group of subjects successfully exploited over 20,000m3 of sand, illegally profiting over 4 billion VND.

The case was discovered by the Office of the Investigation Police Agency, Quang Ninh Provincial Police, and a special investigation project was established in April 2024.

According to the Office of the Investigation Police Agency, this is a very large-scale illegal sand mining ring with many subjects operating in a closed manner. They mainly mine at night, with a very clear division of roles for each person, each group of subjects, and a very closed guard inside and outside, above and below. Every night, the subjects mine thousands of cubic meters of sand, then transport them to the northern provinces and cities for consumption.

This group of subjects are all local residents. In addition, the mining site is located in the creek area of ​​the Da Bac River, this area is surrounded by rocky mountains and dense trees, so reconnaissance encountered many difficulties.

The Investigation Police Agency, Quang Ninh Provincial Police continue to investigate and clarify the criminal acts of related subjects to strictly handle them according to the provisions of law.