'Caught' the case of a couple running a multi-billion-dollar gambling ring in Nghe An

The Investigation Police Agency of Nghia Dan District Police (Nghe An) has issued a decision to prosecute the case and prosecute 11 suspects in a gambling ring using lottery numbers.

Interprovincial gambling line

In early July 2019, through reconnaissance work, Nghia Dan District Police discovered a high-tech gambling ring using lottery numbers, football betting via the internet in Nghia Dan District, Thai Hoa Town, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc, Vinh City and northern provinces.

Using professional measures, the detectives identified the ringleader as Dau Thi Van - commonly known as Van "ot", (born in 1993), and her husband Nguyen Van Thanh - also known as Thanh "che", (born in 1992), both residing in Binh Thanh hamlet, Nghia Binh commune, Nghia Dan district, Nghe An province.

Related exhibits. Photo: Quynh Trang

The two subjects set up and operated an online gambling ring in the form of lottery numbers, football betting through applications such as Zalo, Facebook, and messenger applications... from lottery agents located in Nghia Dan district, including Nguyen Duy Hoang (born in 1993), residing in the market hamlet of Nghia Hoi commune; Tran Thi Thuy Hang (born in 1992), Ha Quoc Phong (born in 1986), residing in Dong Nap hamlet, Nghia Hoi commune; Dau Thi Huong (born in 1984), residing in Hoa Hieu ward, Thai Hoa town; Truong Thai Huy (born in 1993), Tran Quang Ty (born in 1984), residing in Doc Cao block, Quang Tien ward, Thai Hoa town.

For "convenience" in "doing business", the two ringleaders hired Dang Tuan Anh (born in 1994), residing in Nghia Hoi commune, Nghia Dan district, to receive lottery tickets, then collect them and transfer them to "bookies" (those who hold large numbers of lottery tickets): Pham Thi Quynh (born in 1984), residing in Doc Cao block, Quang Tien ward, Thai Hoa town or Nguyen Manh Cuong (residing in Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province) or sometimes transfer them to subjects in Nghi Loc or Vinh city.

After the Northern lottery results are available, the subjects pay for wins and losses through bank accounts, transfer money via Internet Banking or e-wallet applications, and limit direct meetings.

11 subjects in the gambling ring. Photo: Quynh Trang

To deceive the police, the ringleaders often do not reveal their identities, frequently changing their phone numbers and contact methods. Notably, in the afternoon from 3pm to 7pm, when gamblers come to bet, these people organize meals and then post them on Facebook in an attempt to deceive the police. When strangers come to beat them, the ringleaders often refuse or only sell lottery tickets licensed by state agencies.

Lift the net

Faced with the complicated activities of this network, to restore security and order in the area and strengthen the trust of the masses, Nghia Dan District Police decided to establish Project 119C to quickly combat and eradicate it.

On October 13, 2019, the task force decided to crack the case. The plan was to arrest all the suspects in the ring and confiscate all the gamblers' phones and computers. At 5:00 a.m. on October 18, the task force met and divided into 7 reconnaissance teams to simultaneously execute the emergency detention order and urgently search the suspects' residences.

During the arrest, many subjects were surprised and tried to delete electronic data, but the detectives promptly controlled and arrested the subjects. The task force seized many related documents including 2 cars, 7 motorbikes, 4 laptops, 2 tablets, 15 mobile phones and nearly 800 million VND.

Two subjects Nguyen Van Thanh and Dau Thi Van. Photo: Quynh Trang

During the investigation, the subjects confessed that within just 4 days from October 14, 2019 to October 17, 2019, the amount of money the subjects used for gambling was more than 1,200,000,000 VND (one billion two hundred million VND).

The investigation agency determined that from January 2019 to the time of arrest, Dau Thi Van and her accomplices had made money transfers with subjects in the gambling ring in the amount of VND 10,300,000,000 (ten billion three hundred million dong).

Currently, Nghia Dan Police have initiated a case of organizing gambling and gambling, prosecuting 11 defendants including: the couple Dau Thi Van and Nguyen Van Thanh and the "agents": Nguyen Duy Hoang, Tran Thi Thuy Hang, Ha Quoc Phong, Dau Thi Huong, Truong Thai Huy, Tran Quang Ty, Pham Thi Quynh, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Dang Tuan Anh.

The project is currently being expanded.