Houaphanh Crackdown Nets 231 in Transnational Gambling Bust

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Lao authorities arrested 231 people after dismantling an illegal online gambling network operating across three districts in Houaphanh Province.

According to officials, police began monitoring the group in early March. On 26 March, authorities carried out coordinated raids in Viengxay, Aed, and Sobbao districts.

The operation led to the arrest of 223 Vietnamese nationals and eight Lao citizens. Officers also seized cash, live-streaming equipment, tablets, laptops, and gambling-related materials.

Investigators said the network operated through social media platforms, gambling websites, and custom links, using these channels to promote services and livestream gambling activities to users across borders.

The following day, authorities transferred the Vietnamese suspects to Vietnamese police at the Nam Soy–Na Meo International Border Checkpoint. Lao suspects were handed over to provincial authorities for further investigation.

Officials classified the case as transnational crime, saying such activities violate Lao law and affect social order.

Authorities have called on the public to avoid illegal gambling and report suspicious activities as part of broader efforts to prevent cross-border crime.

Authorities have not released further details on the case.

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