Vietnamese police bust cross-border diamond, gold smuggling ring using USD serial numbers

Vietnamese police have busted a sophisticated cross-border smuggling operation involving diamonds and gold. The ring, uncovered by Thanh Hoa Provincial Police in "Chuyen An 268V," used a unique method to avoid detection: serial numbers on U.S. dollar bills served as secret codes for exchanging illicit goods.

During a press conference detailing the first six months of 2026, Major Tong Dinh Xuan, head of the Economic Police Department in Thanh Hoa, revealed that initial investigations found numerous social media accounts advertising jewelry that mimicked famous global brands. The group's transaction volume and revenue saw a sudden surge, indicating illegal activity.

The investigation identified the operation as highly organized, managed by an Indian national who established a Hong Kong-based company to oversee the shipment of goods to Vietnam. This individual also developed a mobile application to track operatives, with an automatic data deletion feature to hinder investigations.

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The individual in charge also developed a mobile application to track the location of each person in the network. When unusual signs were detected, the system would automatically erase all data, causing significant difficulties for the investigation.

Beyond high-tech methods, the group employed a clandestine direct delivery system. Recipients had to present a U.S. dollar bill with a pre-agreed serial number to confirm transactions. Initially, police seized 8 kg of gold, confirming the group had smuggled approximately 200 kg. Further investigation revealed the operation's true scale involved over 30,000 diamonds.

Authorities identified Abhishek Deepak Patel, 32, an Indian national, as the manager of diamond and sales operations in Vietnam. Trinh Quang Chung, 42, was responsible for receiving diamonds in Hong Kong and smuggling them into Vietnam. Dang Ngoc Son, 21, and Tran Thi Hang, 41, handled distribution in Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, and Hanoi. The smuggled diamonds were then allegedly disguised to be sold to customers within Vietnam.

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The shipper would only hand over diamonds or gold when the recipient presented the exact dollar bill with the agreed-upon serial number.