The Ministry of Public Security’s investigative arm has arrested Nguyen Thanh Binh, the incumbent chairman of the administration of An Giang Province in southern Vietnam, for his alleged involvement in the province’s largest-ever illegal sand mining racket, a ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, said Binh had been taken into custody on charges of abusing his position and power while performing duties.

Police officers raided his residence and workplace the same day.

Binh’s arrest is part of an investigation into Trung Hau – Tong 68 Investment Joint Stock Company’s alleged violations relating to the exploitation and trade of sand at mines in My Hiep and Binh Phuoc Xuan Communes, both in Cho Moi District, An Giang Province.

He was accused of aiding Trung Hau – Tong 68 Investment Joint Stock Company in acquiring a license to illegally explore, adjust reserves and capacity, and exploit sand mines in the two communes.

A police report noted that these actions led to a significant financial windfall for Binh and caused losses to state assets.

In August, police also detained Tran Anh Thu, vice-chairman of the People’s Committee of An Giang Province, and Nguyen Viet Tri, director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, following allegations of bribery.

Preliminary investigation results revealed that Thu had asked Tri to aid Trung Hau – Tong 68 Investment Joint Stock Company in obtaining a license to survey and exploit sand mines, and increase its capacity for sand exploitation.

Thu also directed his subordinates to overlook the company’s violations related to exploiting sand mines in My Hiep and Binh Phuoc Xuan Communes.

He was found to have received over VND1.2 billion ($49,000) in bribes from Le Quang Binh, chairman and general director of Trung Hau – Tong 68 Investment Joint Stock Company.

According to police, Trung Hau – Tong 68 Investment Joint Stock Company mined more than 4.7 million cubic meters of sand worth a combined VND253 billion ($10.4 million), exceeding the permitted volume by 3.2 million cubic meters.

In order to sell the mined sand, Binh and his accomplices used intermediary companies they had established to create fake invoices for the sand.

Binh and some of his subordinates spent part of the sum on bribing several officials in An Giang Province.

Binh, 59, was named chairman of the People’s Committee of An Giang Province for the 2016-21 tenure on May 27, 2019.

On June 30, 2021, he was re-elected to the post for the 2021-26 term.

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