Police busted a gambling ring involved in football betting worth over 20 billion VND.

Through intelligence gathering and monitoring of suspects, in early May 2023, the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police discovered a group of individuals involved in gambling.football bettingHigh-tech applications were used in Vinh City, Nghe An Province, with a very large sum of money.

Evidence seized by the police in the case. Photo: Hong Ngoc

This gang was led by two individuals residing in Vinh City: Nguyen Gia Dinh (born in 1992), residing in Vinh Tan ward, and Le Van Khanh (born in 1995), residing in Hung Phuc ward. Assisting Dinh and Khanh were six lower-level agents, all residing in Vinh City (Nghe An province).

This is a criminal group with complex social connections and sophisticated operations, employing numerous tactics to evade law enforcement. For example, the group members operate in a closed system, some are introduced to each other through intermediaries and therefore do not know each other's faces, and they settle winnings and losses weekly via bank transfers.

In particular, during the 2023 SEA Games held in Cambodia, seizing on the psychology of gamblers who would bet on football matches involving the Vietnamese men's and women's national teams, the perpetrators created numerous accounts for football betting. In response to this situation, the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police reported to the Provincial Police leadership to establish a special investigation case.

The two ringleaders of the gang were Nguyen Gia Dinh and Le Van Khanh. Photo: Hong Ngoc

After a period of gathering information and implementing investigative measures, under the direct guidance of the Provincial Police leadership, on May 17, 2023, the Criminal Police Department deployed task forces to arrest and search the suspects in the case at multiple locations, including the residences of key suspects, while also expanding the investigation to arrest related individuals. The seized evidence included 7 mobile phones, 1 laptop, 1 desktop computer, and other related items. Authorities also froze 8 bank accounts.

Besides Dinh and Khanh, the other six suspects arrested by the police all reside in Vinh City: Nguyen Van Nhat (born 1996), residing in Hung Phuc ward; Le Quang Thuan (born 1984), Nguyen Duc Tinh (born 1982), residing in Truong Thi ward; Nguyen Dinh Hong (born 1985), residing in Doi Cung ward; Ngo Thanh Liem (born 1990), residing in Le Mao ward; and Le Trong Khoi (born 1995), residing in Trung Do ward.

The suspects in the case have been arrested. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Initially, investigators determined that the amount of money gambled by the suspects through football betting on websites such as "balu88.com, bong88.com"... from February 2023 until their arrest was over 20 billion VND. The amount gambled during the 2023 SEA Games alone was over 1 billion VND.

Currently, the investigating agency has placed the aforementioned individuals under temporary criminal detention for further investigation and clarification, and is continuing to verify and expand the investigation.