A woman and her two sons in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have been detained after confining six local officials in their house and threatening to detonate a gas tank.

The Department of Police in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province confirmed on Monday that they had arrested Tran My Le, along with her two sons, 26-year-old Do Thanh Phong and 22-year-old Do Hoang Long, for illegal imprisonment.

According to the case file, a team of officers from the People’s Committee in Long Binh Tan Ward, Bien Hoa was tasked with inspecting Le’s house on Friday last week as the residence was allegedly encroaching on the land of a nearby hospital.

After arriving at the house, Le invited the team of six officials, including two police officers, into her home.

The woman and her sons then locked the door and asked for an inspection warrant.

As the officials failed to present the document, the family refused to let them leave.

Officials from the Long Binh Tan Ward administration later came to the house to convince Le and her family members to free the inspectors, a request that was firmly turned down.

Leaders of the Bien Hoa police department also arrived at the residence to persuade them.

However, Le demanded to speak with the provincial Department of Police and Chief Inspector.

She then threatened to ignite the gas tank inside her kitchen if anyone dared to interfere.

After two hours of negotiation, authorities had to use force to apprehend the family and release the six captured officials.