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,...

Kratom TikTokers Arrested in Vientiane Drug Crackdown

On 18 February, authorities in Vientiane Province arrested two online Kratom sellers along with five of their customers for distributing and consuming the drug...

Myanmar Returns First Batch of Chinese Scam Workers to Thailand

AFP - On 20 February, Myanmar handed over the first batch of hundreds of Chinese scam center workers who are set to be repatriated...

Taiwan Lists Laos Among High-Risk Travel Destinations Due to Fraud Rings

Taiwan has categorized Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia as high-risk destinations due to their involvement in hosting fraudulent activities, according to the Taiwanese...

Laos Strengthens Control on Call Center Scams as Thailand Targets Fraud Rings

Laos is intensifying its crackdown on illegal call center operations within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bokeo Province. This action comes...

Thailand Cracks Down on Foreign Teachers with Tourist Visas

Thailand has launched a crackdown targeting foreign teachers working with tourist or transit visas in an attempt to strictly enforce employment laws in the...

Explosion in Oudomxay Auto Parts Shop Kills Four, Injures Six

On 14 February, an explosion erupted at an auto parts shop in Nasao village, Xay district, Oudomxay province, around 10:20 am, killing four people...