Vietnam police dismantle diamond smuggling network linked to PNJ-LAP director Dang Ngoc Thao

The police in Thanh Hóa province announced the bust of a transnational diamond smuggling ring that moved more than 28,000 loose diamonds from Hong Kong, China into Vietnam. The operation involved 141 illicit shipments and generated an estimated revenue of about 280 billion VND. Over the course of the raid on 2 July 2026, authorities arrested 22 suspects, confiscated around 1,100 diamonds and seized extensive documentation of the trade.

Key figures include Dang Ngoc Thao, the director of the PNJ‑LAP gem‑testing subsidiary, who used his expertise to alter GIA certification marks and issue new certificates for the smuggled stones. The ring’s leadership comprised Indian nationals operating out of Hong Kong, with local handlers in Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang and Hanoi coordinating distribution. PNJ has stated that the case concerns individual legal responsibility and affirmed cooperation with investigators while confirming that its certification processes remain unchanged.