Vietnamese and Lao police have successfully dismantled a major online gambling operation that facilitated illegal bets totaling nearly VND1.3 trillion ($50 million).
According to VExpress, the operation was based in Vientiane, Laos, where police discovered Vietnamese nationals managing gambling websites.
The ring was allegedly led by 44-year-old Mai Anh Viet from Hanoi and 41-year-old Nguyen Huu Son from Ho Chi Minh City, who used foreign-hosted platforms for their activities. Viet recruited fellow Vietnamese to oversee the gambling sites and hired others to promote them on social media.
During the raids, authorities seized 35 mobile phones, 12 desktop computers, and 25 laptops. Lao officials transferred 29 Vietnamese suspects and confiscated materials to Vietnam on May 19th. The investigation expanded throughout Vietnam, leading to additional searches and the summoning of 10 suspects.
So far, 31 individuals have been charged—27 for organizing gambling and four for participating in gambling. The investigation is ongoing.
