CaliToday (24/10/2025): Vietnamese investigators have uncovered a massive smuggling operation that funneled over 520kg of gold, worth more than $46 million, from China into Vietnam, utilizing a high-stakes method of hiding gold bars in the soles of shoes and exploiting a critical security loophole.
The Ministry of Public Security's investigative agency has recommended the prosecution of eight defendants on charges of "Smuggling." The two alleged masterminds of the operation have been identified as Trần Thị Hoàn (40, from Lào Cai) and Phạm Tuấn Hải (55, the former Director of Thang Long Trading and Services Co., Ltd.).
According to the investigation, Hoàn was the de facto operator of Hoàn Huế Jewelry Company in Lào Cai. While her husband, Hoàng Văn Huế, was the legal representative, Hoàn managed all business activities, including the illicit gold trade.
The half-ton of gold was reportedly smuggled through two distinct, highly organized channels, both orchestrated by Hoàn.
Channel 1: The "Mrs. Béo" Route and the Shoe-Sole Method
The investigation details that in September 2024, an unidentified Chinese national known only as "Mrs. Béo" ("Mrs. Fat") approached Hoàn at her jewelry store. After an initial sale, "Mrs. Béo" offered Hoàn a steady supply of raw, 99.99% Au gold from foreign sources at a price cheaper than the market rate. Hoàn agreed, and the two established a sophisticated smuggling protocol.
"Mrs. Béo" would purchase the gold in China and hire Vàng Thị Phượng (25, from Lào Cai) to act as a "mule," transporting the gold illegally into Vietnam for a fee of 250,000 VND (approx. $10) per kilogram.
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| The defendants in the case. (Photo: Ministry of Public Security) |
To evade authorities, "Mrs. Béo" instructed Phượng on a specific concealment method: hide 1kg gold bars inside the soles of her shoes, one bar in each shoe.
Phượng then exploited a known vulnerability at the Lào Cai international border gate's security checkpoint. Investigators found that the checkpoint has two security portals, but only one is equipped with a scanner.
Knowing she would not be subjected to a pat-down or asked to remove her shoes, Phượng would place her personal handbag on the X-ray conveyor belt and then deliberately walk through the portal that had no scanner.
Once she cleared security, Phượng would go to a restroom in a nearby parking lot, remove the gold bars from her shoes, place them in her handbag, and proceed to the Hoàn Huế Jewelry Company to deliver the illicit goods.
Using this high-risk method, Hoàn successfully smuggled nearly 100kg of gold (worth over 208 billion VND, approx. $8.3 million) from "Mrs. Béo" between September 17 and November 27, 2024.
Channel 2: The Business Director and Evolving Drop-Offs
In addition to the "Mrs. Béo" route, Hoàn simultaneously ran a larger smuggling operation with Phạm Tuấn Hải.
From September to December 2024, Hải, who sourced his gold from another unidentified Chinese national named "Chau," employed a variety of methods to move the product for Hoàn.
Phase 1: Initially, "Chau's" mules would hide gold in their pockets or in belts tied around their abdomens. They would cross the Lao Cai border and deliver the gold to Hải's private residence. An employee of Hoàn's would then pick it up.
Phase 2: After several successful runs, the operation became more streamlined. Hải's porters ("cửu vạn") began delivering the gold directly to the Hoàn Huế company headquarters, cutting out Hải's home as a middle-stop.
Phase 3: As paranoia set in, Hoàn grew fearful of detection and changed the drop-off location again, this time to a billiard hall owned by one of her friends in Lào Cai.
Phase 4: By November 2024, Hoàn began facing financial difficulties and was slow to pay Hải. The arrangement changed dramatically. Hải and Hoàn agreed that Hải and his own staff would personally deliver the gold directly to Hoàn's customers in Hanoi and collect the cash payments themselves.
Through these evolving methods, Hải successfully smuggled 424kg of gold (worth over 943 billion VND, approx. $37.7 million) for Hoàn. On November 23, 2024, Hoàn also assisted Hải in separately selling 25kg of gold (worth over 56 billion VND, approx. $2.2 million) to her contacts in Hanoi.
In total, the two channels funneled over 520kg of illicit gold into Vietnam's market before the ring was dismantled by authorities.
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