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...

At Least 19 Dead After 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Monday, 8 June, killing at least 19 people. The quake...

Laos Detains 73 Suspects in Telecom Fraud in First Week of June

Authorities in Laos detained 73 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in telecom and online scam operations during two separate enforcement actions carried out in...

Vientiane Moves Forward on Compensation for Thongmang Sinkhole Victims

Vientiane authorities are moving forward with plans to compensate residents affected by sinkholes and ground subsidence linked to potash mining in Thongmang village, Xaythany...

Lao Buddhist Organization Tightens Social Media Guidelines

The Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organization has issued new nationwide guidelines governing how monks use social media, highlighting growing concerns about online conduct as digital...

Golden Triangle SEZ Authorities Report No Scam Operations During Latest Inspection

Authorities in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone said they found no evidence of telecommunications fraud operations during an inspection on 29 May, state...

UXO Clearance Uncovers 36 Explosives in Vientiane Province

A bomb clearance operation in Kasi district, Vientiane province, has uncovered 36 unexploded Authorities in Kasi district, Vientiane province, have uncovered 36 unexploded ordnance...