Law and Crime

Vientiane Shuts Down KM38 Dharma Practice Center After Leader Defies Order Over Reborn Buddha Claim

On 24 September, Vientiane authorities shut down the KM38 Dharma Practice Center in Sangsai village, Pakngum district, after its leader declared herself the reincarnation of Phra Sri Ariya Metrai, the Maitreya Buddha that Buddhist tradition says will one day appear on earth to succeed Gautama Buddha. Under the 24 September...

Corruption Crackdown in Laos’s Attapeu Province Uncovers Millions in Financial Irregularities

Attapeu authorities have detailed five years of corruption investigations and financial irregularities, including a...

Xaysomboun Identifies Four Companies Over Unauthorized Gold Mining

Authorities in Xaysomboun Province have identified four companies allegedly involved in unauthorized alluvial gold...

Laos Detains 33 Suspects in Two-Day Vientiane Cybercrime Crackdown

Lao authorities detained 33 people, all Chinese nationals, in a two-day operation targeting cybercrime...

Latest Scam Center Raids Hit Vientiane, Champasak with Nearly 100 Arrests

Laos has detained nearly 100 suspected scammers in raids across the country last week,...

Vientiane Cracks Down on Business Violations, Fines Over LAK 338 Million

In the first half of 2025, the Vientiane Capital Department of Industry and Commerce inspected 98 businesses and fined 13 units a total of...

Authorities Seize Illegal Signal Repeaters in Vientiane Capital

The Ministry of Technology and Communications investigated and uncovered the illegal use of foreign-made signal repeaters in Vientiane Capital. According to the Ministry of Technology...

Bokeo Authorities Seize 6 Million Methamphetamine Pills

Bokeo Province authorities have seized a large shipment of methamphetamine, totaling 6 million pills and weighing 600 kilograms. According to Bokeo authorities, on 18 August,...

Vietnamese Man Arrested for Trafficking 16 into Laos

Vietnamese authorities arrested 26-year-old Ly Van Sang on 17 August for human trafficking after he smuggled 16 people into the Golden Triangle Special Economic...

Laos Hands Over Five Drug Suspects to Thailand

Laos has handed over five drug suspects to Thai authorities as part of ongoing efforts to combat cross-border drug crime. On 13 August, the five...

Over 500 Lao-Registered Cars Overstay in Vietnam

Vietnamese authorities have reported that over 500 Lao-registered vehicles, including luxury models, have overstayed in Vietnam after entering under temporary import arrangements.  On 14 August,...