On December 19, the Investigation Police Agency (Economic Police Department) of Ho Chi Minh City Police announced that it had issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case and prosecute 3 defendants for the act of "Trading in prohibited goods" related to the purchase, storage and distribution of N2O gas (laughing gas).
According to the investigation results, on November 1, the authorities discovered the N2O gas trafficking ring operated by N.T.K.C (born in 1983, residing in Binh Thoi ward), N.P.H.Q (born in 2003, residing in Ben Thanh ward) and T.G.H (born in 2005, residing in Linh Xuan ward). The subjects have a clear assignment and decentralization of roles in the chain of buying, selling, hiding and delivering N2O gas cylinders.
Notably, the subjects do not organize for users to inhale air to laugh directly at bars, karaoke bars or lounges as before but have switched to retail, giving air bottles to consumers.
This group took advantage of social networks, anonymous accounts and technology delivery services to conceal illegal acts, making it difficult to detect and handle.
Initially, it was determined that from July 2025 to the end of October 2025, N.T.K.C contacted to buy a large quantity of N2O gas cylinders, organized the storage, distribution and sale to many customers, illegally profiting hundreds of millions of VND. Q and H continued to buy large quantities from C for consumption, forming a closed buying and selling line.
Ho Chi Minh City Police said that according to Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly, from January 1, 2025, the act of trading N2O gas for human use is strictly prohibited. The acts of buying, selling, storing and distributing N2O gas for industrial purposes other than industrial purposes must be sufficient to constitute the crime of "Trading in prohibited goods" under Article 190 of the Penal Code.
In the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City Police will continue to strengthen the fight against and dismantle illegal laughing gas trading rings, while advising people, especially young people, to be vigilant and promptly report to the police when detecting violations.
