Law and Crime

Laos Seizes Major Drug Hauls, Arrests Over 4,000 in Six Months

Laos arrested 4,025 suspects in connection with 1,786 drug cases during the first six months of 2026 as authorities intensified a nationwide crackdown on narcotics, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on 6 July. Laos has been stepping up in its anti-drug campaigns by targeting both domestic drug...

Laos Steps Up Illegal Mining Crackdown After Luang Prabang Gold Mining Cases

The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal...

Laos Arrests More Than 4,400 in Cybercrime Crackdown During First Half of 2026

Laos recorded more than 4,400 arrests linked to cybercrime, online scams, and illegal gambling...

Fire Incidents Cost Laos Over USD 14 Million in First Half of 2026

Fire incidents across Laos claimed eight lives and destroyed homes, businesses, and vehicles during...

Laos Seizes More Than 110 Kilograms of Suspected Wildlife Products in Luang Prabang

Lao authorities have seized more than 110 kilograms of suspected illegal wildlife products and...

Laos Grapples with Extreme Weather Events, Fires in 2023, Causing USD 53.5 Million Damage

Laos faced a tough year in 2023 as it battled through 76 extreme weather events and fires that caused severe damage across the country....

Vientiane Residents Rush to Update Vehicle Registration Plates

In response to Vientian’s recent announcement regarding the city’s registration plates, changing vehicle number plates from Vientiane Municipality to Vientiane Capital, effective on 1...

Illegal Use of Kratom Persists in Laos Amidst Debate Over Legality vs Medicinal Benefits

Despite an official ban on Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a tree native to Southeast Asia, contains mitragynine, a chemical similar to opioids like morphine in...

Lao Woman Rescued from Alleged Captivity in Thailand

Udon Thani Provincial Police Station in Thailand executed a rescue operation on 3 March, liberating an 18-year-old Lao woman, Praewa, from a house in...

Lao, Chinese Authorities Team Up to Bust Online Fraud Dens, Arresting 268 Suspects

Lao and Chinese authorities collaborated to dismantle seven online fraud operations entrenched in Laos, resulting in the arrest of 268 Chinese telecom fraud suspects...

Laos Records 773 Road Accidents in January, with 119 Deaths

Laos recorded a total of 773 road accidents in January, a significant rise of 143 accidents compared to December 2023, according to a report...