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...

Vientiane Capital’s Tax Department Announces Ban on Cash Payments to Prevent Corruption

The Lao Tax Department, which is part of the Ministry of Finance, revealed on Tuesday that employees will not be allowed to receive tax...

Malaysia Makes Owning LGBTQ+ Swatch Punishable by up to 3 Years in Jail

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government said Thursday that all Swatch products that contain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer elements — including...

Son of Spanish Actors is Arrested in Thailand on Suspicion of Killing Colombian on Tourist Island

BANGKOK (AP) — The son of two Spanish film stars has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon...

Investigators Say Myanmar’s Military is Committing Increasingly Brazen War Crimes

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military and affiliated militias are committing increasingly frequent and brazen war crimes, including aerial bombings targeting civilians, a group of...

Foreign Tourist Gets Assaulted, Robbed in Champasack, Sustains Minor Injury

A foreign tourist was robbed and assaulted while cycling along the Pakse-Phonthong bridge in Phonthong District, Champasack Province on Monday. The victim has been identified...

Deadly UXO Explosion Kills Two Children in Xayaboury 

A fatal blast caused by suspected Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Phiang District, Xayaboury Province has claimed the lives of two children.  According to a report from...