Nghệ An authorities arrest gold thief and address forest destruction case

Police in Nghệ An province have arrested Nguyễn Đình An for stealing 25.5 mace of gold, valued at approximately 350 million VND, from a residence in Nam Đàn commune. An, who has seven prior convictions for theft and causing injury, reportedly used masks and avoided surveillance cameras to evade detection. Following the theft on October 8, 2026, An sold the gold across various provinces to fund gambling and purchase vehicles for future crimes. Authorities seized two motorcycles, knives, and a mobile phone during his arrest in Hưng Nguyên.

In a separate legal matter, a court in Nghệ An has issued a first-instance judgment against Lê Văn Thành for forest destruction. Between March and April 2023, Thành allegedly hired workers and used three excavators to clear over 11.3 hectares of natural production forest in Quỳ Hợp district to make room for acacia and cinnamon planting. While the defendant has contested the findings, judicial authorities determined that the actions caused severe degradation to over 5.2 hectares and total destruction of over 2.8 hectares of forest, including more than 32,000 bamboo plants.