Twelve individuals prosecuted for football betting in a rural village.

On the morning of July 30, 2018, the Tan Ky District Police announced that they had issued a decision to prosecute 12 individuals for gambling in the form of football betting during the 2018 World Cup.

Previously, according to public opinion, since the 2018 World Cup, gambling in the form of football betting has become prevalent in the district, especially in Tan Phu and Nghia Hoan communes and some neighboring communes and districts, causing public outrage.

Twelve individuals were involved in a gambling ring that operated through football betting. Photo: Phuong Hao

Among them, Hoang Tuan Anh (born in 1989), residing in Nghia Hoan commune, stood out as the ringleader of the gambling ring, with the strong support of two other individuals: Van Ba ​​Hiep (born in 1990), residing in Nghia Hoan commune, and Nguyen Ngoc Thang (born in 1989), residing in Tan Phu commune (Tan Ky district).

Their modus operandi involves using text messages and social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook between individuals who already know each other to place bets.

After the matches end, those involved in the live betting scheme will meet at a certain location to settle payments or transfer money via bank account. These transaction locations constantly change, sometimes even in very secluded places with little foot traffic, making investigation difficult.

In light of this situation, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Tan Ky District Police decided to establish Special Case No. 718B to combat and prevent this type of crime.

On the morning of July 16, 2018, the special investigation team received information that a group of individuals were conducting a transaction after the final match between the French and Croatian national teams at the house of Nguyen Ngoc Thang (Tan Phu commune, Tan Ky district).

The Chairman of the Tan Ky District People's Committee commended the special task force for their achievements in combating crime in the district. Photo: Phuong Hao

At exactly 10:15 AM on July 16th, the order to raid was given, and three task forces simultaneously stormed Nguyen Ngoc Thang's house from three directions: the front door, the main door, and the rooftop. They caught four individuals red-handed exchanging money related to winnings and losses from football betting on the final match; seizing 60 million VND, one laptop, four mobile phones, and various notebooks related to gambling activities in the form of football betting.

At the police station, the suspects bowed their heads and admitted to all their criminal acts. The Tan Ky District Police continued to expand the investigation and identified 12 individuals involved in gambling: Hoang Tuan Anh (born 1989), Van Ba ​​Hiep (born 1990), Gian Viet Lap (born 1976), Ta Danh Quang (born 1991), and Tran Quang Manh (born 1991), all residing in Nghia Hoan commune; Truong Khanh Hai (born 1979) and Nguyen Ngoc Thang (born 1989), both residing in Tan Phu commune; Dau Ngoc Luc (born 1982), residing in Giai Xuan commune; Van Ba ​​Diep (born 1991) and Van Ba ​​Tung (born 1994), both residing in Tan Hop commune, Tan Ky district; and Nguyen Van Ngoc (born 1990), residing in Nghia Thuan commune, Tan Ky town. Thai Hoa and Nguyen Van Nghia (born in 1980) reside in Van Dien commune, Nam Dan district.

The special task force receives an award from the Nghe An Provincial Police. Photo: Phuong Hao.

The investigation proved that the total amount of money the suspects used for gambling was 900 million VND.

For that exceptionally outstanding achievement, the special task force was commended by the Director of the Nghe An Provincial Police and the Chairman of the Tan Ky District People's Committee for their achievements in combating crime in Tan Ky district.