The Police of the northern mountainous province of Lang Son has announced the successful dismantling of a major criminal operation involving the illegal transportation of radioactive materials.
Earlier, the Police led a coordinated effort with relevant authorities in the province to intercept and seize 84 tons of Monazite ore belonging to the Duong Lam Joint Stock Company. The seizure occurred while the company was processing export documents to ship the materials abroad.
On May 13, the Security Investigation Agency of the Provincial Police formally launched criminal proceedings and issued an arrest warrant for Tran Van Quan (born 1957, residing in Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), who has been charged with the "illegal transportation of radioactive materials" under Article 309 of the Penal Code. Then, on May 16, the agency executed the arrest warrant for Quan. All legal decisions and warrants were approved by the Lang Son Provincial People’s Procuracy.
Expanding the investigation, the Security Investigation Agency conducted searches at the offices of the company in central Lam Dong Province, as well as the company’s Ilmenite-Zircon processing plant in Hoa Thang Commune, Lam Dong. During the searches, authorities seized various items and documents related to the case to support the ongoing investigation.
According to experts, the seized Monazite ore contains a high percentage of rare earth oxides, which can be utilized in the manufacturing of electronic devices, high-tech products, and nuclear technology applications. This marks the first time the Provincial Police has successfully investigated and intercepted such a large quantity of radioactive-related materials.
Currently, the relevant units are expanding the investigation and will handle the case in accordance with the law.
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