Da Nang police chief orders crackdown on online gangsters and entire criminal ecosystems

Da Nang’s police chief has ordered a tougher campaign against “online gangsters,” calling on officers to dismantle entire criminal ecosystems rather than pursue isolated suspects.

Major General Nguyen Huu Hop issued the instruction at the city police’s September flag ceremony, where units and individuals were also recognized for outstanding performance. Police said political security and public order remained stable in August, while crime fell from the previous month.

Hop told units to review progress toward their 2026 targets, especially goals that remained low or risked missing deadlines. The targets include reducing social-order crimes by at least 10 percent, cutting the number of suspended cases, resolving more than 90 percent of crime reports and petitions for prosecution, reducing wanted suspects by at least 20 percent, and raising the investigation rate for very serious crimes above 95 percent.

He also directed police to focus on criminal figures operating behind businesses, particularly illegal extraction of soil, sand and minerals, as well as brokers involved in securing projects. On cyberspace, he called for a change in approach: officers should investigate chains of conduct and benefits, trace money and documents, and eliminate the profits generated by illegal activity.

Local police were instructed to monitor and prevent efforts to recruit or incite young people, organize large gatherings, resist authorities or stage protests. They were also told to target online crimes and people who exploit issues of public concern to post or share fabricated, distorted, defamatory or false information.