Ho Chi Minh City is set to hear a major gold smuggling case involving 24 defendants accused of transporting over 6.1 tonnes of gold bars worth billions from Cambodia through the Chang Riec border gate. This elaborate scheme highlights vulnerabilities in Vietnam's border controls and raises concerns about potential collusion within the system, as reported by a Vietnamese publication, Cafef. 

The indictment by the Supreme People's Procuracy reveals two smuggling rings operating from July 2022 to September 2022. Nguyen Thi Minh Phung allegedly led the first ring, using a network of over 20 people to smuggle 4.8 tonnes of gold.

Phung exploited a loophole allowing border residents' vehicles to bypass customs inspections. Her accomplices near the border gate used hidden compartments in ice transport vehicles to conceal the gold, while Phung coordinated sales and delivery in Ho Chi Minh City.

The second ring, led by Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong, smuggled 1.3 tonnes of gold using similar methods. Phuong reportedly sold the gold to a gold shop owner, Dang Thi Thanh Hang, who bought nearly 300kg despite lacking a licence to trade in gold bars.

Notably, Hang's brother, Dang Nam Trung, allegedly transported a significant amount of smuggled gold by air via VIP security channels at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. While security staff reportedly identified suspicious objects in Trung's luggage, they failed to properly investigate, raising questions about potential involvement.

This case exposes the sophistication of smuggling operations and potential weaknesses in Vietnam's border management and security protocols. The investigation into airport personnel highlights the need for stricter oversight and enforcement to prevent exploitation of loopholes. As such, the trial's outcome will be closely watched as Vietnam seeks to tighten its grip on gold smuggling and ensure proper customs procedures are followed.