Police in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Friday initiated legal proceedings and an arrest warrant against a 23-year-old man for the offenses of manufacturing, possessing, and illicitly trading in military weapons.

The aforementioned decision and arrest warrant were approved by the Da Nang People’s Procuracy.

The man, Pham Ngoc Son, 23, residing in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, is accused of manufacturing firearms for sale, which is illegal in Vietnam.

The investigation into the case showed that around July, Son discovered various foreign websites instructing making military weapons from plastic through three-dimension (3D) printing.

Driven by the desire to earn money through the sale of weapons, Son used local 3D printing services to print gun designs.

Upon receiving the 3D printed components, Son personally made additional parts such as copper barrels, and drilled and assembled firing mechanisms and springs to complete the guns. 

Pham Ngoc Son is arrested. Photo: H.B. / Tuoi Tre

Once the guns were finished, he sold them to customers with demand through a delivery service.

On August 12, Son used a delivery service at the Hoa Hiep Nam Ward postal office in Lien Chieu District to send four guns to customers. 

After Son handed over the package, the investigative security agency cooperated with the postal service to launch an inspection and subsequently seize the firearms.

The investigative security agency assessed that 3D printed guns capable of firing real ammunition are a particularly dangerous type of weapon, with numerous risks associated with their widespread production and use.

The agency urges all 3D printing establishments to strictly adhere to the law governing the printing service industry and to absolutely refrain from assisting any individuals in printing components for military weapons.

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