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 Drug Smuggler Arrested in Cambodia with Over 1 Million Methamphetamine Pills

Cambodia officers seized a Lao national for possessing over 1 million meth pills while transporting them at the Trapeang Kriel International Border Checkpoint on...

Laos to Enforce Ban on Unregistered, Unlabeled Food Products in 2025

The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced new regulations, requiring all food products to carry proper registration, Food and Drug Department (FDD)...

Japanese Embassy Leads High-Level Meeting to Tackle Laos’ Illicit Drug Challenges

On 8 November 2024, a high-level meeting took place in Vientiane to address the ongoing challenges posed by illicit drug production, trafficking, and usage...

Bokeo Tightens Control on Online Gaming Firms to Curb Cyber Fraud

The Management Board Committee for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has instructed online game operators within the Gold Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to consolidate...

Children Most Frequent Victims of UXO in Laos, National Authorities Say

Children are the most affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents across Laos, national authorities reported.  According to the National Regulatory Authority for Unexploded Ordnance, more...

Vientiane Seizes Millions in Drugs in First Nine Months of 2024

During the first nine months of 2024, authorities in Vientiane Capital confiscated a total of 15.5 million narcotics pills and arrested 1,273 criminals, with...