Nguyen Van Hai, Director of the Thanh Hoa Center for Historical Research and Cultural Heritage Conservation under the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, confirmed that the tomb of King Le Tuc Tong, part of the nationally recognized Lam Kinh relic complex, showed signs of intrusion likely aimed at locating buried artifacts.

At approximately 10:15 PM on May 3, during a routine inspection of the tomb site in Kien Tho commune, Ngoc Lac district, the management unit discovered suspicious evidence.

At the scene, officials found a green mobile phone with Chinese language settings, a Chinese national ID belonging to a man, and a probing rod (a tool commonly used to explore the ground for hidden objects) stuck into the soil near the tomb. All items were handed over to the police for further investigation.

In a related development, Quang Ninh provincial police reported the arrest of two suspects: Den Zhui (born in 1984) and Shen Jiangyang (born in 1982), both residents of Guangxi, China. They were apprehended for "violating the sanctity of human remains and graves."

Earlier, at 1:30 PM on May 4, the Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Police requested assistance from their Quang Ninh counterparts to track down the suspects, who were fleeing toward Mong Cai City with the intent of crossing the border into China.

Immediately after receiving the request and relevant documents, Quang Ninh police launched a coordinated operation, deploying officers and applying various investigative measures.

By 2:15 PM the same day, police stopped a taxi with license plate 36H-098.31 and successfully apprehended the suspects. They have since been handed over to Thanh Hoa authorities for legal proceedings.

According to officials from the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, there has been an increase in suspicious activity across provinces involving individuals who exploit heritage research or academic study as a front for illegally surveying or excavating historical tombs and archaeological sites in search of relics and antiquities.

In response, the department has called on all localities in Thanh Hoa to step up protection and management of historical and cultural sites, ensuring prompt detection and strict punishment for theft, illegal excavation, smuggling, and unauthorized trading of cultural artifacts.

King Le Tuc Tong was the third son of King Le Hien Tong and Queen Dowager Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoan, who was born in Hung Yen province. Born on August 1, 1488 (the 19th year of the Hong Duc era), King Le Tuc Tong passed away in 1504. In 1505, his remains were transported to Lam Kinh and buried at Kinh Lang in Kien Tho commune, Ngoc Lac district, Thanh Hoa.

The tomb was previously damaged and only remnants of thin bricks surrounding a raised mound remained. In 1997, a survey confirmed its original location. It was then restored using brick with a cement finish. The tomb now measures 4.5 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and 1 meter high.

Pham Cong & Le Duong