A shooting instructor in Ho Chi Minh City has been arrested for acting as an intermediary for the illegal sale of a handgun classified as a military weapon.

Police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong confirmed on Wednesday they had apprehended Do Danh Hien, 33, a shooting coach from Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hien was previously a professional shooter on the national team.

He is also a teacher at Truong Cong Dinh Middle School and a shooting instructor at a sports center in Binh Thanh District.

According to initial information, Hien introduced a group of buyers from Lam Dong to an arms dealer at a hotel in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City on November 22.

The group purchased a Glock 19 pistol, and Hien later received VND20 million ($864) for brokering the deal.

On November 23, police identified the buyers and conducted an administrative inspection upon their return to Lam Dong.

Officers found the handgun in the suspects’ luggage, along with 55 bullets, two cans of pepper spray, a folding knife, and a dagger.

The Institute of Criminal Sciences under the Ministry of Public Security examined the gun and classified it as a military weapon.

The suspects were later identified as Pham Van Tai, 36, Ho The Quyen, 27, and Nguyen Minh Tuan, 23.

According to their statements, they wanted to buy a gun and contacted a man named T. in Ho Chi Minh City.

T. then asked Hien, the shooting instructor, to find a dealer.

Police officers have expanded their investigation to identify the original origin of the weapon.

Vietnam bans civilians from storing, using or trading guns and ammunition in any form.

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