On October 15, provincial police said the four men had been charged with the illegal possession and use of military weapons in connection with the wildlife poaching case.
The suspects were identified as Ngo Hoang Hau, 23, Do Khac Truong, 30, Do Khac Cuong, 32, and Nguyen Tan Ben, 39, all residents of Phu Quoc Special Zone in An Giang Province.
According to preliminary investigations, on May 14, Ngo Hoang Phi, 47, Hau's father, contacted Truong, Cuong and Ben and asked them to hunt 10 silvered langurs to produce a traditional animal-based medicinal extract for sale.
The group subsequently entered Section 58 of Phu Quoc National Park's protected forest, carrying a 6.5mm air rifle that Truong had purchased through social media.
On May 27, Truong's group delivered eight langurs to Phi. As the number fell short of his request, Phi instructed Hau to hunt another animal.
Hau took the air rifle to Section 66 of the protected forest in Suoi Cat Cua Duong neighbourhood, Phu Quoc Special Zone, where he shot another langur and brought it home.
At around noon that day, police caught Phi and Hau skinning and butchering the animal.
A search of Phi's home uncovered nine silvered langurs, a homemade firearm, 132 lead pellets and other related items.
Phi and the four other suspects had previously been charged on June 1 with violating regulations on the protection of endangered, precious and rare wildlife.
The latest charges relate specifically to the alleged illegal possession and use of military weapons.
