Nguyễn Mai Anh, Ngô Quang Tuấn, Trần Văn Dự and Vũ Sỹ Cường (from left) have been arrested. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A former high-ranking immigration officer at the Ministry of Public Security has been arrested for allegedly taking bribes in organising repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trần Văn Dự, 61, former Deputy Director of the Immigration Department at the Ministry of Public Security, was among six people arrested on Monday as investigations into the repatriation flight scandal were expanded, said Lt. Gen. Tô Ân Xô, Chief of the Office and Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security.

Nguyễn Mai Anh, 46, an international relations specialist at the Government Office; Ngô Quang Tuấn, 38, an international relations specialist at the Ministry of Transport; and Vũ Sỹ Cường, 36, a former immigration officer at the Ministry of Public Security, also face charges of taking bribes.

Bùi Huy Hoàng, 34, an official at the Ministry of Health, was arrested on fraud charges, and Nguyễn Tiến Mạnh, 52, a travel business leader, was arrested for giving bribes.

Bùi Huy Hoàng (left) and Nguyễn Tiến Mạnh. —VNA/VNS Photo

Việt Nam had operated around 2,000 repatriation flights to bring home residents stranded overseas due to the pandemic.

But many people had to buy expensive tickets and complete tortuous procedures to get a seat.

An investigation found many officials and business leaders had taken advantage of the policy to earn money.

A series of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tourism firm directors were arrested for their involvement in bribery while organising the flights.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tô Anh Dũng was arrested in April for taking bribes. — VNS