Ha Tinh police bust VND1-trln transnational gambling, money-laundering ring
VOV.VN - Ha Tinh provincial police have coordinated with those in other localities and the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security to dismantle a particularly large transnational gambling and money-laundering ring involving more than VND1 trillion in just over two months.
The investigation team deployed 66 officers to simultaneously carry out arrests, searches and summons including 36 people in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ha Tinh, Lam Dong and Da Nang. The ring was led by five Taiwanese nationals, who directly oversaw operations in Vietnam.
According to investigators, since April the group had organised online gambling and money-laundering activities under instructions from Taiwan. Its operations were highly compartmentalised, with locations and personnel frequently rotated to evade detection.
The ringleaders rented apartments in residential complexes in Ho Chi Minh City and managed Vietnamese staff responsible for various stages of the gambling and money-laundering operation. To conceal their activities, the group hired multiple individuals to register mobile phone subscriptions and open bank accounts at various financial institutions.
In just over two months, the ring used 266 bank accounts to launder more than VND1 trillion. Data related to the accounts was transferred to Taiwan for management and to facilitate fund transfers linked to online gambling activities.
Searches at related locations resulted in the seizure of 56 personal mobile phones, 266 phones used in the operation, three computers and numerous documents and other evidence. Ha Tinh police have charged those involved with gambling and money laundering.
Dozen foreign nationals caught illegally gambling at Nha Trang hotel
Police of the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on April 10 said they have detained a Vietnamese woman and 13 foreign nationals for investigation over illegal gambling activities uncovered at a hotel in Nha Trang.
