Lao authorities arrested 167 people in eight raids targeting online scams and illegal gambling across Vientiane Capital during the first half of September, with dozens detained in operations at a hotel, restaurant and rented houses.
The latest raid took place on 12 September, when officers searched two rented houses in Nongtha Neua Village, Chanthabouly District, and Phonngern Village, Hadxayfong District, according to security media.
Thirteen people were arrested, including 12 Chinese nationals and one Lao national. Police also seized electronic devices, two handguns, 1,494 suspected methamphetamine pills and other items.
The arrests came after a 6 September raid at Yuzhou Smart Hotel in Nongviengkham Village, Xaythany District, where officers detained 43 people, including 41 Chinese nationals and two Hong Kong nationals.
On 5 September, officers also arrested two people, a Lao national and a South Korean national, during an illegal gambling raid at a restaurant in Phonsinuan Village, Sisattanak District.
Together, the three raids added 58 people to the 109 arrested in four earlier operations reported at the start of September, bringing the month’s total to 167.
Authorities said investigations are continuing.
Nationwide Crackdown
The arrests in Vientiane are part of a wider crackdown on cybercrime, online scams and illegal gambling across Laos.
Authorities have detained at least 6,200 suspects linked to such activities since the start of 2026.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said nearly 4,500 suspects from 25 nationalities had been arrested during the first half of the year.
Around 1,000 more people were detained in July, while major operations in August led to another hundreds more arrests.
Officials say they are continuing to investigate the networks behind the operations.
