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,...

Regional Operation Disrupts USD 20 Million Transnational Scam Syndicates, Thousands of Bank Accounts Frozen

Authorities across Asia have arrested more than 1,800 individuals as part of a sweeping operation targeting transnational scam networks, according to the Hong Kong...

Fake Facebook News Pages in Laos Mimic Real Media to Lure Victims in Online Scams

At first glance, everything looks real, the familiar logo, the breaking news post, the comments from local readers. But behind the page isn’t a...

5.8 Kg Heroin Seized at Wattay International Airport Adds to 134 Kg Narcotics Seized in May

Lao authorities seized 5.8 kilograms of heroin on 29 May, concealed within aluminum-lined blankets inside two travel bags during a routine inspection that led...

Man Confesses to Teen Murder Driven by Obsession, Case Sent to Prosecutor

Attapeu authorities brought a 40-year-old man to the scene of a crime he allegedly committed in February, where he is accused of murdering his...

Lao Government Warns Against Surrogacy Amid Rise in Illegal Cases

Lao authorities have issued a strong warning against all forms of surrogacy, stating that anyone involved could face up to 19 years in prison...

Lao Authorities Seize Over 100 Marijuana Packages at Wattay Airport, Three Malaysians Arrested

Lao authorities seized more than 100 packages of marijuana at Wattay International Airport on 27 May, arresting three Malaysian nationals accused of attempting to...