The ministry issued the commendation on Friday, praising the close coordination between multiple units in tracking down the suspects.
General Luong Tam Quang, a Politburo member and minister of public security, sent a letter of commendation to the Criminal Police Department, the Administrative Management of Social Order Police Department, the Technical Operations Department, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, the Criminal Science Institute, Gia Lai provincial police, Quang Ngai provincial police, Ho Chi Minh City police and Detention Centre 1.
The two bank robbers escaping (Photo: Gia Lai Provincial Police).
The ministry also approved cash bonuses for groups and individuals involved in the investigation.
According to the ministry, the robbery took place at about 4 pm on January 19, 2026, when two suspects used a gun-like object to steal more than VND 1.8 billion (about USD 70,600) from a bank transaction office on Truong Chinh Street in Hoi Phu Ward, Gia Lai.
Police said the case caused public alarm, while investigators initially had limited information on the suspects, who used what the ministry described as sophisticated methods to evade detection.
Despite the challenges, police units across several localities coordinated to investigate and arrest the two suspects by February 5.
The ministry described the arrests as an “exceptionally outstanding achievement”, highlighting the determination and professional skills of the forces involved.
The bank robbers hide their motorbike in an industrial park in Dien Hong Ward, Gia Lai (Photo: Gia Lai Provincial Police).
In the letter, Quang congratulated the participating units and asked Gia Lai police to complete the case file and coordinate with judicial agencies to ensure the suspects are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Investigators said the two men wore uniforms resembling those used by ride-hailing motorbike taxi drivers when they stormed the bank office. After threatening staff, they fled on a motorbike.
A week later, police discovered the vehicle buried in a pine forest near Dien Phu industrial park, about 5km from the robbery site. The hole had been covered with planks and concealed with old mats and leaves, authorities said.
The case remains under further investigation.