Vietnam and Laos police bust VND 4,000 billion cross‑border online gambling ring

Police in Vietnam’s Quảng Trị province, working with Lao law‑enforcement agencies, dismantled a cross‑border online gambling network that moved more than VND 4,000 billion (about US$170 million) through a front‑company called ASM in Laos. The operation, led by a Chinese individual and supported by Vietnamese participants, processed roughly VND 40 billion each day, converting the funds via the MIA exchange and the UST stablecoin before sending the money to China.

Investigation by the provincial security department traced the scheme to the OKWIN gambling portal and identified 56 Vietnamese suspects and one Chinese suspect. Authorities charged 53 people with organising gambling, placed 34 in pre‑trial detention and imposed residence bans on 19 others. Notable Vietnamese figures include Triệu Khắc Luân of Ho Chi Minh City and Vày Lền Phat of Đồng Nai. Lieutenant Colonel Lê Văn Hóa, deputy director of Quảng Trị police, oversaw the joint operation that involved the ministries of public security of both Vietnam and Laos.