Woman prosecuted for smuggling gun from Cambodia into Vietnam

Vietnamese border guards have initiated criminal proceedings against a 32-year-old woman after she was discovered attempting to smuggle a handgun and ammunition into the country from Cambodia.

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The border guard commander of the Moc Bai international border gate (Border Guard force of Tay Ninh province) decided to prosecute N.T.P (32 years old, residing in Lao Cai province) when she hid a gun while completing entry procedures from Cambodia to Vietnam.

The incident occurred at the Moc Bai international border gate in Tay Ninh province. The suspect, identified as N.T.P. from Lao Cai province, was undergoing customs checks when authorities detected a firearm concealed within her luggage. She was attempting to enter Vietnam from Cambodia.

During questioning, N.T.P. confessed to purchasing the revolver and six rounds of ammunition via the social media platform Telegram while in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She claimed the purchase, costing 11.6 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $450 USD), was for personal protection. She then hid the weapon in her suitcase to avoid detection.

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During the inspection, functional forces discovered in P.'s red suitcase a white bag containing 1 revolver, along with 6 metal-tipped bullets in the cylinder.

Following the discovery, border guards collaborated with customs officials to conduct a thorough inspection of her belongings. The confiscated firearm and ammunition were sent for forensic analysis, which confirmed they fall under the category of military-grade weapons according to Vietnamese law. The case has been handed over to the Tay Ninh Provincial Police for further investigation and legal processing.

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P. confessed to the authorities that during her time in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), she had bought the gun and the ammunition online via the social network Telegram for 11.6 million dong, then hid it in her luggage for self-defense.