A woman in Ho Chi Minh City has been arrested for illegally dumping 7,800 tons of aluminum ash and slag over five years, causing significant environmental damage.
Police serve arrest and prosecution documents to Nguyen Ngoc Thuong. (Photo: The Police)
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a woman for violating environmental laws after she dumped 7,800 tons of aluminum ash and slag directly into the environment over the past five years.
On January 23, the city's Criminal Investigation Police Department issued a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain Nguyen Ngoc Thuong, 42, a resident of Binh Chanh District, on charges of "Causing environmental pollution."
Illegal waste dumping uncovered
Investigations revealed that since late 2019, Thuong had operated an unlicensed aluminum recycling facility in Vinh Loc B Commune, Binh Chanh District.
Thuong managed the facility herself, employing multiple workers to assist in the operations.
During the aluminum smelting and recycling process, large quantities of industrial solid waste, including aluminum ash and slag, were generated. Instead of disposing of the waste in compliance with regulations, Thuong directed her workers to dump it directly within the facility premises.
Shocking scale of pollution
Authorities inspect the illegal aluminum recycling facility. (Photo: The Police)Nearly 7,800 tons of hazardous waste were dumped directly into the environment at Thuong’s facility. (Photo: The Police)
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the facility illegally dumped approximately 7,800 tons of industrial solid waste into the environment.
Initial inspections revealed that the facility was set up on vacant land in a eucalyptus forest in Hamlet 58 (formerly Hamlet 6A), Vinh Loc B Commune.
The site had no business registration or environmental protection documentation.
Thuong admitted her actions during the initial investigation.
The police have determined that Thuong's facility was a spontaneous, unregistered operation that posed a serious threat to the environment.
Further investigations are underway to assess the full impact of the waste dumping and to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Vietnamnet.vn
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