Vietnam arrests prominent vigilante figure over alleged extortion, illegal border crossings


Nguyen Thanh Hai (fourth from right) and accomplices are informed of their pre-trial detention orders. - Photo courtesy of HCM City Police

HCM CITY: Vietnamese police have arrested and detained Nguyen Thanh Hai, a well-known self-styled vigilante who gained public attention for claiming to rescue trafficking victims, accusing him of extortion and involvement in an organised cross-border smuggling network.

Hải, often referred to on social media as “Hai the vigilante,” was formally charged and placed in pre-trial detention late last year, HCM City police said in a statement released on Friday (Jan 2).

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