Crime

Laos Reports COVID-Era Graft, Jails Former Official in Separate Corruption Cases

Authorities in Laos have disciplined 153 people and referred another 21 for judicial proceedings over a COVID-era scheme that allowed Chinese nationals to evade quarantine fees or pay rates above official limits, causing total losses of approximately USD 2.2 million. State Inspection Authority President Vansay Phongsavanh reported the case to...

Authorites Seize 23 Excavators in Two Illegal Gold Mining Raids in Vientiane

Authorities seized 23 excavators and other equipment during two raids on suspected illegal gold...

Authorities in Laos detained nearly 10,651 suspects of 31 nationalities in the first nine...

Laos Proposes Overhaul of Narcotics Classifications to Target Unlisted Drugs

Laos is proposing to expand its official list of prohibited narcotics and controlled chemicals...

Laos Hands Over Nearly 200 Suspected Scammers to Thailand, China in Early October

Laos handed 196 Chinese and Thai nationals back to authorities in their home countries...

Thai Police Arrest Two Lao Nationals, Seize Over 800,000 Meth Pills

On 21 January, Thai authorities arrested two Lao nationals and seized more than 800,000 methamphetamine tablets in a major crackdown on a transnational drug...

Over 400 Indonesians Released by Cambodian Scam Networks, Ambassador Says

By Suy Se with Dessy Sagita in Jakarta and Matt Surrusco in Bangkok/AFP - Cyberscam networks in Cambodia have freed more than 400 Indonesians...

Government Tightens Controls on Burning Activities to Curb Forest Fires, PM2.5

The Lao government has announced stricter measures to prevent forest fires and reduce PM2.5 pollution during the January–April dry season, warning that uncontrolled burning...

Authorities Step Up Crackdown as Drug Smuggling Cases Surface Across Laos

Lao authorities have intercepted several major drug trafficking operations since the start of 2026, underscoring persistent challenges at international gateways, within domestic networks, and...

Man Confesses Murder of Sister-in-Law in Sekong

Police in Sekong Province have arrested a man for the alleged rape and murder of his sister-in-law in Lamam District, authorities confirmed on 13...

Cambodia Suspends Sales at Properties Owned by Accused Cyberscam Front

AFP - Cambodia has frozen sales of luxury properties by a US-sanctioned conglomerate after its founder was extradited to China and charged by Washington...