From Here To Vietnam: International Fencing, Smuggling Ring

FREMONT, CA — The Fremont Police Department has announced the arrest of nine suspects and the recovery of millions of dollars worth of stolen property, as it busted-up a massive international fencing scheme that operated throughout the Bay Area.

The investigation was launched in response to a dramatic spike in auto burglaries that were taking place in the parking lots of shopping centers along the I-880 corridor in Fremont. The 35 percent increase in theft from autos during 2017 prompted the department to shift resources to combat the crime wave.

"During an undercover surveillance operation on December 8, 2017, property crimes detectives were led to a storage facility in San Jose, California," Geneva Bosques, Public Affairs Manager for Fremont Police said in a written statement. "At the location, detectives observed suspects loading suspected stolen electronic devices into a large storage container commonly used to ship freight overseas. Detectives seized and searched the container, discovering more than 900 stolen electronic devices (laptops and tablets). The estimated $1 million in stolen property was intended for shipment to Vietnam."

Investigators continued their probe and uncovered a highly sophisticated multi-million dollar fencing scheme operating in the Bay Area. It started with street-level criminal suspects, many of them members of validated street gangs, who broke into parked vehicles throughout the Bay Area to steal laptops, smart phones and tablets.

The conspiracy was centralized in Santa Clara County, according to Bosques. Fremont Detectives consulted with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Strategies Unit, who assisted in authoring warrants and high bail affidavits.

Last Thursday, detectives organized a multi-location operation to serve seven search warrants around the Bay Area. Two suspects were stopped as they attempted to board a flight to Vietnam, thanks to help from the United States Customs Airport Division. The pair had 18 items of luggage containing more than 300 suspected stolen electronic devices.

Detectives recovered an additional 700+ items of suspected stolen property and arrested seven additional suspects on the day of the operation at the suspect locations.

The suspects are: Carlos Paz, 28, of San Francisco; Huong Tran, 31, of San Jose; Benjamin Pham, 44, of San Jose; Luan Huynh, 30, of San Jose; Hung On, 51, of San Jose; Cinthia Martinez, 38, of San Francisco; Marvin Paz, 33, of San Francisco; Rony Martinez, 34, of San Francisco.

Eight of the suspects were charged with multiple felony counts including conspiracy, possession of stolen property and an excessive takings enhancement. The ninth suspect was arrested and released.

The total value of recovered items is estimated at approximately $2 million.

Detectives are continuing their investigation.

-All images via Fremont Police