On May 29, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, Smuggling and Environment (PC05) of Da Nang City Police announced that it had just issued a decision to prosecute the criminal case of "Environmental Pollution" occurring at the Project "S hard Waste Incinerator for Power in Khanh Son".
The investigation agency also prosecuted the accused and executed a search warrant for the residences of three related subjects to continue investigating and clarifying the act of illegally burying more than 162 tons of solid waste. This behavior not only caused public outrage but also rang a warning bell about violations of environmental protection laws at construction projects.
The three subjects prosecuted include Tran Cao Phong, born in 1977, residing in Hanoi City, holding the role of Project Commander; Duong Anh Ngoc, born in 1993, residing in Quang Binh Province; and Pham Huu Quy, born in 1993, residing in Hue City. The decisions to prosecute and search warrants have been approved by the People's Procuracy at the same level, marking an important step forward in strictly handling violations of environmental protection laws.
According to the initial survey results, around the beginning of 2025, through professional work and grasping the situation, the reconnaissance force of the PC05 Department of Da Nang Police Department discovered signs of suspected signs related to operation at the project of Khanh Son generating solid waste waste plant. This project is located by Vietnam Environment Joint Stock Company, with the address at Khanh Son solid waste treatment complex, Hoang Van Thai street, Hoa Khanh Nam ward, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city, as an investor. The Khanh Son solid waste treatment complex is an important place in the city's waste management and treatment system, so any violation here has a great impact on the general efforts on environmental protection.
The culmination of the process of monitoring and collecting evidence was on March 23, 2025, when the police force conducted an unexpected inspection in the project area. At the scene, the working group caught a bulldozer who was performing the act of leveling and burying solid waste. From here, signs of serious environmental violations of the environment in the project have gradually been revealed.
The process of struggle to exploit and collect evidence shows that, in order to save costs in the process of leveling of the project, Tran Cao Phong, as the commander of the project, has taken the mastermind and directed the two remaining subjects, Duong Anh Ngoc and Pham Huu Quy to commit the illegal act. Accordingly, Ngoc and Quy hired vehicles to move a large amount of solid waste. This waste is determined to arise from the process of burning domestic waste, packed in large sacks and gathered at the warehouse of Vietnam Environment Joint Stock Company. Instead of handling in accordance with the regulations, the subjects have stealthily carrying this waste to illegally buried on the premises of the project under construction.
The assessment results from the authorities have determined the total volume of conventional solid waste, which were illegally disposable, leveled and buried into the environment up to more than 162 tons. This behavior not only seriously violates the provisions of the law on environmental protection, but also has the potential to cause soil, groundwater and air pollution, negatively affecting the ecosystem and public health in the region. Although classified as "conventional solid waste", the burial of such a large volume without processing properly can lead to long -term impacts, breaking ecological balance.
Currently, the case is still being further investigated by the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, Smuggling and Environment of Da Nang City Police, clarifying the role and responsibility of each individual and organization involved, as well as determining the specific level of damage for strict handling according to the provisions of law.
