From deadly poisoning cases, why is it so easy to buy cyanide?

A shocking case recently occurred when Nguyen Thi Hong Bich (38 years old, in Dong Nai) bought cyanide and poisoned her husband and many family members because of conflicts in daily life.

Dong Nai Province Police have prosecuted Bich for murder and are expanding their investigation into how the suspect purchased, stored and used cyanide.

Up to now, in cases of cyanide poisoning and murder, the perpetrators have stated that it is very easy to buy this highly toxic substance to carry out their criminal plans.

Need highly toxic cyanide, order now and get it delivered to your door

Pretending to be someone who wants to buy cyanide, the reporter surfed social networks to find a place to buy it and found a series of addresses introducing this extremely toxic substance.

A Facebook account named NNT advertises that the product is available, newly imported potassium cyanide, and guarantees genuine products.

However, this person said that they only sell if customers buy it for electroplating or experimentation, not for illegal use. The seller also warned that the product is extremely toxic and should not be used directly.

Despite the exchange, the seller said that just by placing an order, cyanide can be traded directly in Ho Chi Minh City or delivered through a shipper, payment will be made upon receipt and inspection, the selling price is 500,000 VND/100g.

Another seller through Facebook account To Tr. introduced potassium cyanide and only sold it when customers ordered 0.5 kg or more. This person did not ask for the purpose of use, whether it was an individual or a business, but only asked for the delivery address and affirmed that they could buy as much as they wanted, and would deliver it to their doorstep before payment.

In chemical groups on social networks, with tens of thousands of members/groups, there is also open trading of cyanide. A quick look at the information shows that buyers and sellers of highly toxic substances only do so online, using intermediary delivery services.

According to research, a domestic online shopping platform also has cyanide products openly advertised. However, a few days ago, the website removed information about this highly toxic product.

Many websites that sell chemical products sell cyanides, mostly potassium cyanide, which is introduced as being used in gold and silver plating and some alloys, and in labs, research institutes, factories, schools, etc. At the same time, the sellers all note that only companies and businesses with a license to use this chemical can buy it and warn of the danger level, which can lead to death if directly exposed to cyanide.

However, when PV purchased potassium cyanide through some sales websites, he was directed to the shopping cart, payment method, leaving his name, email address, and phone number without mentioning the "license of use".

Through the hotline of a chemical sales website, the reporter talked to a female sales staff. When hearing that the potassium cyanide buyer was an individual and not a licensed business, the employee said "I understand, we cannot sell". However, in response to the "enthusiasm", the female employee also said "it can be resolved but this is an employee working part-time outside" and promised that someone would contact her by phone.

Strictly control the sale of toxic chemicals

Kim Bien Market, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City has long been famous for its chemical products. Regarding cyanide, 2-3 years ago, when a number of murder cases involving this highly toxic substance emerged, the authorities controlled the products in the market. However, according to Ms. N. (a long-time trader at Kim Bien Market), "there are still some places that sell it illegally to customers."

Posing as a customer wanting to buy cyanide, the reporter went to Kim Bien market and asked three nearby stores, but the stall owners all waved their hands and shook their heads in refusal.

A vendor said that he had stopped selling this item a long time ago because it was "very toxic". When the reporter asked "if I need to buy it for experiments or work, can I order it?", the vendor confirmed that "it is not sold here, there is no stock, there may be a stall selling it but you need documents to buy it"; at the same time, he suggested "it is easier to order online".

Ms. N. revealed: "Cyanide is still stored by some stall owners, only sold to regular customers until now. Now, few people dare to sell it secretly to individual customers, but it depends on the person...".

Discussing this issue, lawyer Dao Thi Bich Lien (Ha Hai and Associates Law Office, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) said that currently, toxic and banned substances are widely sold outside, online and even delivered to your door at many different prices.

The issue of controlling the purchase and sale of toxic chemicals is regulated in Article 23 of the 2007 Chemical Law and guided by Article 39 of Circular 28/2010/TT-BCT detailing a number of articles of the Chemical Law and Decree 108/2008/ND-CP guiding the Chemical Law issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade. Violations are subject to corresponding levels of punishment, fines, and imprisonment.

To limit the widespread and easy trading of toxic chemicals in general and cyanide in particular, lawyer Lien said that, in addition to deterrence by imposing high fines and penalties prescribed in the Penal Code, the most important thing is to strictly control access to and trading of banned and toxic substances.

"To do this, there needs to be coordination between relevant authorities. It is necessary to closely monitor the state management of the purchase and sale of toxic chemicals. More importantly, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and dissemination of legal education on the harmful effects and potential risks of cyanide... It is necessary to promptly detect and denounce acts of illegal purchase and sale and use of banned and toxic substances," said lawyer Lien.

Ms. Lien proposed adding stricter regulations on business and trading conditions, increasing penalties for violations of regulations on toxic substances, and taking strict measures to handle organizations and individuals who illegally trade, store, and use banned and toxic substances.