Nghe An: Authorities dismantle a lottery gambling ring worth over 400 billion VND.

Previously, since the beginning of 2021, this gambling ring had been discovered, monitored, and identified by the Hoang Mai Town Police. They determined that the ringleaders had established and formed a network of "branches" in many areas of Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu district, and Binh Duong province, with more than 20 participants.

Through investigative measures, the police determined that the average amount of money the suspects used for gambling each day was over 1 billion VND.

The individuals involved in the gambling ring have been arrested. Photo: Duc Vu

At 6:30 PM on June 29th, under the direct command of the Provincial Police leadership, the Hoang Mai Town Police, in coordination with the Mobile Police Unit, simultaneously arrested 18 individuals at 17 locations involved in illegal lottery and betting activities in Quynh Xuan and Mai Hung wards (Hoang Mai town); Quynh Ngoc commune (Quynh Luu district); and Tan Uyen town, Binh Duong province.

During the arrest, the police seized 850 million VND in cash, 2 gold bars (9999 purity), 2 cars, 20 motorbikes, 3 laptops, 25 mobile phones, 30 notebooks used for recording lottery numbers, 1 rubber bullet gun, 1 air gun, 3 knives/swords, 5 cans of pepper spray, 1 electric baton, 102 rubber bullets, and other evidence.

Evidence seized after a search of the residence of suspect Vu Dinh Sam. Photo: Duc Vu

Through the investigation, it was initially determined that the amount of money involved in gambling by the suspects from the beginning of 2021 until the time of their arrest was over 400 billion VND. The arrested suspects were in the process of completing lottery and betting transactions on June 29, 2022.

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

The ringleaders of the gambling operation. Photo: Duc Vu

The process of dismantling the illegal lottery gambling ring was fraught with difficulties for the police force. All the suspects operated in closed rooms, and the time spent committing the crimes was very short, requiring a surprise, swift, and effective arrest. For example, during the arrest of Vu Dinh Sam, the arresting force had to break the locks on three doors to enter his room in a short period of time.

Police forces conducted an urgent search of the residences of suspects Ho Thi Lai and Vu Dinh Sam. Photo: Duc Vu

Before his arrest, the suspect quickly destroyed the documents immediately after completing lottery and betting transactions received from his "subordinates." To ensure safety during the commission of the crime, Sam arranged for the installation of a dense network of surveillance cameras throughout the house, both in front of and inside, and the entrances and exits between the rooms were securely reinforced.

The residence of suspect Vu Dinh Sam is equipped with a surveillance camera system. Photo: Duc Vu

Currently, the Police Investigation Agency is continuing to expand the case, arrest the remaining suspects, and consolidate the case file to strictly prosecute the suspects in accordance with the law.