New twist in $2.2 million robbery: Mastermind not related to victim

Phan Ly Phuong, the mastermind behind the staged robbery of over $2.2 million, was not the victim's son as initially believed. Instead, Phuong orchestrated the robbery to steal money from a friend of his parents.

Today (March 25), the Tay Ninh Provincial Police continued questioning the arrested suspects to further investigate the robbery case involving more than $2.2 million.

The Provincial Police Investigation Agency has prosecuted Phan Ly Phuong (34, from Tay Ninh), Dao Xuan Loc (34, from Dong Nai), Nguyen Tuan Anh (32, from Ninh Binh), and Nguyen Anh Duy (32, from Binh Dinh) on charges of "property robbery." Le Nguyen Binh (37, residing in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City) was also prosecuted for "harboring criminals."

The shocking truth behind the staged robbery

The victim, identified as P.T.M.L. (43, residing in District 3), was initially thought to be Phuong’s mother. However, investigations revealed that Phuong’s mother was merely a friend of Mrs. L.

Recently, Phuong overheard his mother mentioning that Mrs. L. had received $2 million and brought it to her house in Loi Thuan Commune, Ben Cau District, Tay Ninh Province. Desperate for money, Phuong devised a plan and recruited his friends to stage a robbery.

Following Phuong’s guidance, on the afternoon of March 10, the group, including Loc, Anh, and Duy, arrived at the house. Posing as police officers, they confronted Mrs. L. and demanded that she go to the police station to explain the large sum of foreign currency she was holding.

While Mrs. L. was preparing to comply, the group seized the money, estimated at over $2.28 million, and fled. Notably, after securing the massive sum, Loc, Anh, and Duy abandoned Phuong and cut off all contact with him.

After confessing to his mother and Mrs. L., Phuong was brought to the Tay Ninh Provincial Criminal Police Department on the afternoon of March 11, where he admitted to being the mastermind and was detained for investigation.

Tracking down the suspects

Following the investigation, on March 15, the Tay Ninh Provincial Police, in coordination with the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, raided a hotel in Le Trong Tan Urban Area, Duong Noi Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi. They arrested Le Nguyen Binh, recovering nearly $1.96 million.

Binh claimed that Loc, Anh, and Duy had arranged to meet him in Hanoi to hand over and conceal the money.

Based on the findings, on March 20, police officially prosecuted Phan Ly Phuong and Le Nguyen Binh, while issuing national arrest warrants for Loc, Anh, and Duy, who had fled.

The Tay Ninh Provincial Police and the Criminal Police Department worked closely with multiple provincial police units to track the fugitives.

By noon on March 24, the authorities surrounded a campsite in Chu Se District, Gia Lai Province, and swiftly arrested Loc, Anh, and Duy. They also confiscated three cars used as getaway vehicles.