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...

Laos Joins Global Fight Against Cybercrime as President Thongloun Heads to UN Convention in Vietnam

Laos is set to deepen its commitment to fighting cybercrime by signing the United Nations Convention on Countering Cybercrime at a high-profile ceremony in...

Malaysia Approves Border Wall with Southern Thai Province to Curb Smuggling, Illegal Crossing

The Malaysian government has approved a budget of MYR 1.5 billion (approximately USD 350 million) to construct a security wall along its border with...

Philippines Renews Warning on Human Trafficking After Four Filipinos Rescued from Laos

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has renewed its warning to Filipino citizens seeking employment abroad to be cautious, following the safe return of...

Cambodia’s ‘Prince Group’ Accused of Global Cybercrime with Links to Laos

Laotian Times/AFP - On 14 October, US authorities unsealed an indictment against Chen Zhi, a UK-Cambodian businessman accused of running forced labor camps in...

Laos Burns Massive Drug Hauls to Mark National Anti-Drug Day

Authorities in several provinces across Laos have destroyed significant quantities of confiscated narcotics in the lead-up to the Lao National Day Against Drug Abuse...

Ministry of Public Security Issues Nationwide Warning on Online Scams

On 30 September, the Ministry of Public Security issued a nationwide notice warning the public about online scams and providing detailed instructions for victims...