PNJ-LAB Director implicated in transnational diamond smuggling case

diamond smuggling PNJ-LAB transnational crime GIA certification Thanh Hoa

Thanh Hoa Provincial Police have released forensic results regarding a major transnational diamond smuggling investigation. The Institute of Forensic Science (Ministry of Public Security) confirmed that the seized transparent stones are both natural and synthetic diamonds.

Investigators identified Dang Ngoc Thao, Director of PNJ-LAB (a subsidiary of Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC), and employee Tran Tien Nhu Nghi as having conspired with Indian nationals to smuggle diamonds from Hong Kong to Vietnam. Thao allegedly used her professional expertise to grind off original GIA serial numbers from the diamonds and replace them with PNJ-LAB numbers, subsequently issuing new PNJ-LAB certificates to sell the stones to private customers for personal profit.

The smuggled diamonds were sold directly to individuals and were not entered into the official PNJ retail system. Authorities noted that the smuggling ring involved over 30,000 diamonds with a value exceeding 1.5 trillion VND. Regarding PNJ, investigators confirmed the company maintains complete and legal import documentation and that its official distribution processes comply with all legal regulations.

Entities

Dang Ngoc Thao · PNJ · PNJ-LAB · Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company · Thanh Hóa Provincial Police · Tran Tien Nhu Nghi

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] Dang Ngoc Thao ground off GIA serial numbers on diamonds and replaced them with PNJ-LAB numbers to issue new certificates. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The smuggled diamonds were sold to individual customers and not through PNJ's retail system. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Thanh Hoa Provincial Police are investigating a transnational diamond smuggling case. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The seized transparent stones are confirmed to be both natural and synthetic diamonds. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Dang Ngoc Thao, Director of PNJ-LAB, and Tran Tien Nhu Nghi, a PNJ-LAB employee, conspired to smuggle diamonds with Indian nationals. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] PNJ maintains complete and legal import documentation for its diamond products. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Diamonds were smuggled from Hong Kong to Vietnam. baolaocai.vn · afamily.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · +3 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The smuggling ring involved over 30,000 diamonds valued at over 1.5 trillion VND. baoxaydung.vn