Nghe An: Dismantling a lottery gambling ring worth over 400 billion VND

Previously, since the beginning of 2021, this gambling ring was discovered, monitored and identified by Hoang Mai Town Police, who established and formed a "tentacle" system in many areas in Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu District and Binh Duong Province, with more than 20 participants.

Using professional measures, the police determined that the amount of money the subjects used for gambling per day averaged more than 1 billion VND.

Subjects in the gambling ring were arrested. Photo: Duc Vu

At 6:30 p.m. on June 29, under the direct direction of the provincial police, Hoang Mai town police coordinated with the Mobile Police Department to simultaneously arrest 18 subjects at 17 lottery betting locations in Quynh Xuan ward, Mai Hung ward (Hoang Mai town); Quynh Ngoc commune (Quynh Luu) and Tan Uyen town, Binh Duong province.

During the arrest, the police temporarily seized 850 million VND in cash, 2 bars of 9999 gold, 2 cars, 20 motorbikes, 3 laptops, 25 cell phones, 30 books used to record lottery numbers; 1 rubber bullet gun, 1 air gun, 3 knives, 5 pepper sprays, 1 electric baton, 102 rubber bullets and a number of other exhibits.

Evidence seized after searching the house of Vu Dinh Sam. Photo: Duc Vu

Through the investigation, it was initially determined that the amount of money the subjects had gambled from the beginning of 2021 to the time of their arrest was more than 400 billion VND. The arrested subjects were in the process of completing lottery transactions on June 29, 2022.

The six ringleaders of this gambling ring include: Vu Dinh Sam (born in 1975), Phan Thi Tron (born in 1972), Ho Thi Lai (born in 1980), Le Thi Van (born in 1972), all residing in Quynh Xuan ward, Hoang Mai town; Nguyen Thi Huong (born in 1982), residing in Tan Uyen town, Binh Duong province; Ta Quang Phong (born in 1960), residing in Quynh Ngoc commune, Quynh Luu district.

The leaders of the gambling ring. Photo: Duc Vu

In the process of eliminating the gambling ring using lottery numbers, the police force encountered many difficulties, because all the subjects operated in closed rooms, the time to commit the crime was very short, so the process of arresting them had to be surprising, quick and effective. For example, when arresting Vu Dinh Sam, the arresting force had to break the locks of 3 doors in a short time to enter his room.

Police force conducts an emergency search of the residence of Ho Thi Lai and Vu Dinh Sam. Photo: Duc Vu

Before being arrested, the subject immediately destroyed the documents after completing the transaction of the lottery numbers transferred by the "henchmen". To ensure safety during the crime, Sam arranged to install a dense surveillance camera system in front and inside the house, and the entrances and exits between the houses were firmly reinforced.

Vu Dinh Sam's house is equipped with a surveillance camera system. Photo: Duc Vu

Currently, the Investigation Police Agency is continuing to expand the case, arrest the remaining subjects and consolidate the case file to strictly handle the subjects according to the provisions of the law.