Law and Crime

Laos Arrests More Than 550 in August Scam Crackdown

Laos has detained more than 550 people in raids targeting online scams and illegal gambling operations so far in August, as authorities step up a nationwide crackdown that has now netted more than 1,100 suspects since mid-July. The latest figures come after a series of raids across Vientiane Capital and...

Laos Seizes Nearly 1.8 Tonnes of Suspected Ivory, Black Panther Remains in Bolikhamxay Raid

On 16 August, Lao authorities detained 11 foreign nationals in connection with a wildlife...

Vientiane Authorities Detain Nearly 400 in Cybercrime Raids in Early-to-Mid August

Vientiane authorities have detained nearly 400 suspects in three separate raids since the start...

Laos Authorities Arrest Four in Alleged Marriage Trafficking Network

On 23 July, Lao authorities arrested four people suspected of operating a human trafficking...

Police Detain 261 Foreign Nationals in Thatluang Lake SEZ Scam Raid

On 8 August, Vientiane police raided a telecommunications fraud and online gambling operation at...

Bank of Laos Responds to EU Sanctions Against Lao Bank

The Bank of Laos (BOL) has publicly addressed European Union (EU) sanctions imposed on the Joint Development Bank (JDB), which threatened the bank’s international...

Authorities in Xaysomboun Arrest Three in Illegal Gold Mining Crackdown

Authorities in Xaysomboun have arrested three people and seized heavy equipment during a targeted operation against illegal gold mining in Anouvong district. Provincial authorities and...

Laos Deports 46 Foreign Nationals Amid Crackdown on Scam Networks

Lao authorities handed over 46 Chinese nationals to Chinese officials on 26 May following an immigration crackdown in Oudomxay province, according to provincial police. The...

Five Alive, Two Still Trapped in Xaysomboun Cave

Rescuers confirmed on Wednesday that five villagers were found alive inside a flooded mine cave in Long Chaeng district, Xaysomboun province, after a week-long...

Vientiane Police Arrest 27 in Hotel Raid Amid Scam Crackdown

On 26 May, Vientiane police arrested 27 suspects of six nationalities after raiding a hotel in Hatsady village, Chanthabouly district, dismantling a transnational telecommunications...

Champasak Police Arrest Five Suspects in Meth Trafficking Operation

Authorities in Champasak Province have arrested five people suspected of methamphetamine trafficking and seized more than 22,000 pills during a crackdown in Sanasomboun district...