Vietcombank robbers arrested in central Vietnam, 4 guns seized, $70,000 recovered

They also seized four guns from the suspects, Pham Anh Tai, 36, and Le Van An, 33, and recovered nearly all of the stolen money, as announced at a press conference on Friday.

Pham Anh Tai (R) is arrested for robbing a Vietcombank branch in Gia Lai Province, Feb. 5, 2026. Photo by police

The robbery occurred on the afternoon of Jan. 19 at the bank's Tra Ba branch on Truong Chinh Street in Hoi Phu Ward, Pleiku City. The suspects arrived on a Yamaha Exciter motorbike, wearing face coverings, helmets, and Grab-branded clothing.

Inside the transaction office, the pair brandished firearms, threatened staff, and seized approximately VND1.8 billion before fleeing the scene.

Money robbed from a Vietcombank branch seized by police. Photo by police

The two men have known each other for a long time and both possess extensive criminal records. Tai was already wanted on murder charges under a 2018 arrest warrant.

Police revealed that Tai and An had spent time conspiring to rob the bank, outlining a detailed plan that included specific escape routes and the disposal of evidence.

After the heist, the pair fled Gia Lai for Ho Chi Minh City to dispose of the stolen assets.

While in the southern metropolis, they limited all contacts and frequently changed their places of residence to avoid detection.

Le Van An, one of the bank robbery suspects, is detained by the police. Photo by police

An then returned to Quang Ngai Province, where he resumed a seemingly normal daily routine in an apparent attempt to conceal his involvement in the robbery. Tai continued his life on the run, moving between multiple localities without a fixed place of residence.

However, more than a week prior to the arrests, investigators discovered an Exciter motorbike, matching the one used in the heist, buried in a pine forest near the Dien Phu Industrial Park, about 5 km from the crime scene.

It was from the motorbike that the police tracked down An and put him under surveillance after he showed several suspicious signs.

Following the arrests, Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang sent a letter of commendation praising the police units involved. He highlighted the efforts of the Criminal Police Department, the Cybersecurity Department, the Institute of Forensic Science, and police forces from Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Two bank robbery suspects about to flee a Vietcombank branch with a bag of money in Gia Lai Province on Jan. 19. 2026 in this footage from a security camera.

The minister noted that despite limited information and the sophisticated methods the suspects used to evade detection, the officers worked with high responsibility and determination.

"This is an exceptionally outstanding achievement, demonstrating the determination, ingenuity, creativity, and sharp professional skills of the units and localities involved," the letter read.