Prosecuting and handling many cases of illegal fireworks storage
Records on social networking groups and forums show that illegal firecracker sales and ordering activities still appear sporadically near Tet, with discreet transactions via private messages, causing difficulties for control. This shows that underground demand still exists, despite being repeatedly warned by functional agencies.
Faced with the above situation, Bac Ninh Provincial Police proactively deployed inspections and grasped the area early to prevent and handle violations; in December 2025 alone, many cases of illegal firecracker trading and storage were prosecuted and handled.
On December 25th, the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Provincial Police initiated a criminal case and prosecuted Nguyen Van Huong for the act of trading 132.5kg of firecrackers. Huong confessed that he was transporting these firecrackers from Kep commune to Bo Ha commune to sell for profit. Functional forces seized 90 boxes of firecrackers, 1 car and 1 mobile phone to serve the investigation.
Previously, on December 15, Bac Ninh Provincial Police also prosecuted and temporarily detained Dong Van Luc for trading nearly 3 quintals of fireworks. The subject confessed to buying fireworks manufactured in China for 20 million VND from an unidentified person, taking them back to hide for profit. Exhibits seized included all fireworks, 1 Peugeot 2008 car, 1 motorbike and 1 mobile phone.
At the grassroots level, functional forces also detected and handled many cases of illegal firecracker storage in residential areas, seized exhibits and made records according to regulations.
For example, on December 16, Nenh Ward Police (Bac Ninh province) discovered a subject storing 2.15kg of firecrackers. Although there were not enough elements for criminal handling, the subject was still administratively fined 15 million VND according to Decree 98/2020/ND-CP.
From the published cases, it shows that firecrackers still seek to penetrate the area through many different transport routes. Secret transactions on social networks cause difficulties for detection and prevention; while the awareness of a part of the population about the difference between illegal firecrackers and legal fireworks is still limited, posing a potential risk of law violations.
Need to clearly distinguish between legal fireworks and firecrackers
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, Lawyer Quach Thanh Luc - Director of Phap Tri Law Firm (Hanoi Bar Association) - said that according to the provisions of Decree 137/2020/ND-CP, firecrackers and homemade firecrackers are strictly prohibited from being produced, traded, stored, or used illegally. Meanwhile, fireworks produced by Factory Z121 - Ministry of National Defense are items licensed for business and use during holidays, Tet, and cultural events.
People need to clearly distinguish between these two types of firecrackers to avoid violating the law and ensure safety, and at the same time not facilitate the illegal trading of firecrackers. Buying fireworks at official sales points of defense enterprises helps people feel more secure about the origin, and at the same time is issued invoices, stamps, QR codes to look up product information, reducing the risk of buying counterfeit and poor quality goods" - Lawyer Luc said.
Bac Ninh Provincial Police also recommend that, in order to ensure health safety and comply with the provisions of law, people buy fireworks at official sales points of the Ministry of National Defense enterprises. Fireworks allowed to be used are types that only emit light, create color effects that do not cause explosions; while firecrackers are prohibited from being produced, traded, and used illegally.
In order to meet the demand for legal fireworks to serve the safe Spring celebration, Bac Ninh province has announced 29 legal fireworks selling points manufactured by Hoa Chat 21 Co., Ltd. (Z121 Factory - Ministry of National Defense), serving people during holidays and Tet. These selling points are widely distributed throughout the province to facilitate people to look up and buy goods in accordance with regulations.
