Law and Crime

Luang Namtha Finds 184 People Allegedly Involved in USD 1 Million Corruption Cases

Authorities in Luang Namtha have identified 184 people involved in two corruption cases that cost the state LAK 23.3 billion (USD 1.035 million), state media Socio-Economic News reported on 5 November. Of the 184 people, 155 faced administrative action, while 23 were prosecuted and sentenced by the courts. The remaining...

Rare Earth Ponds Burst in Houaphanh, Villages Halt River Use Pending Inspections

Village authorities along the Nam Vaen and Nam Xam rivers have told residents to...

Authorities Seize 77kg of Raw Gold in Crackdown Across Eight Provinces

The State Inspection Authority has seized 77 kilograms of raw gold ore across eight...

Thai Authorities Arrest Lao Woman on Human Trafficking Charges at Nong Khai Border

Thai immigration officers arrested a 60-year-old Lao woman at the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge...

Laos Destroys Tonnes of Drugs as Police Warn of New Substances

Lao authorities have destroyed 44.5 tonnes of seized drugs and drug-making chemicals in recent...

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...

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 mining sites in Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital, according to Lao...

Laos Tightens Ban on Minors Entering Entertainment Venues

On 7 October, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket announced tighter enforcement of rules barring people under 18 from entering entertainment venues....

Laos Flags Millions in Misused Funds Across Public Projects

The State Inspection Authority has flagged USD 1.976 million in diverted funds and spending on unused assets in Vientiane’s USD 99.7 million Bus Rapid...

Laos Shifts Tourism Licensing Powers to Provincial, District Authorities

Laos is revising how tourism business licences are issued and enforced, dividing responsibilities among central, provincial, and district authorities, Minister of Information, Culture and...

Laos Detains More Than 10,500 Cybercrime Suspects in First Nine Months of 2026

Authorities in Laos detained nearly 10,651 suspects of 31 nationalities in the first nine months of 2026 in a nationwide crackdown on cybercrime and...