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...

Lao Man Caught Smuggling Suspected Recreational Drug Across Mekong to Thailand

Thai authorities arrested a 51-year-old Lao national for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of a suspected illicit substance across the Mekong River into...

Traffic Accidents Surge in Vientiane During New Year 2026 Celebrations

Traffic accidents in Vientiane Capital rose sharply during the year-end and International New Year 2026 celebration period, with 28 accidents and seven fatalities recorded,...

Authorities Assess Possible Casualties After Overnight Fire in Luang Prabang

A fire tore through a public housing area in Wat That village, Luang Prabang, in the early hours of 3 January, destroying seven homes...

Attapeu Steps Up Price Controls Ahead of New Year

Authorities in Attapeu Province have strengthened price control measures to stabilize the cost of goods and services during the end-of-year and New Year period,...

Laos to Require Online Businesses to Register Under New E-Commerce Rules, Starting Next February

On 17 December, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) issued a nationwide directive requiring individuals and companies operating online businesses in Laos to...

Vientiane Provincial Court Issues Sentences in Five Criminal Cases

The Vientiane Provincial People’s Court handed down final judgments on 25 December in five criminal cases involving offenses ranging from traffic violations and fraud...