Breaking up a huge gambling ring using lottery

(Baonghean.vn) - The investigation agency determined that the amount of money recorded in lottery bets in one day of the network was up to more than 300 million VND. In 2 weeks, the amount of money the subjects used to bet was nearly 5 billion VND.

Accordingly, the Investigation Police Agency of Anh Son District has just initiated a case of "gambling" in the form of lottery and prosecuted 11 subjects, who are agents in this "huge" gambling ring.

Nguyen Anh Tho (standing 4th from left) and his accomplices. Photo: Thai Hien

According to the police, recently in Anh Son town and some neighboring communes, there have been many gambling dens in the form of lottery games, large scale, complex and sophisticated operations with the participation of many subjects. In this situation, the leaders of Anh Son district police have directed the establishment of Project 248L to concentrate forces and measures to fight.

The Task Force quickly delved into the methods and tricks of these lottery dens to track down the network. During the investigation, the Task Force identified Nguyen Anh Tho (born in 1981), residing in Block 6B, Anh Son town, as the leader of this "huge" lottery gambling ring.

With the aim of expanding the area, Tho organized many of his agents. To deal with the police, the agents operated through text messages and social networks such as Facebook, Zalo, then compiled and sent to Nguyen Anh Tho. Some of the subjects in Nguyen Anh Tho's network had criminal records for gambling, so they were very sophisticated and cunning in dealing with the situation to avoid detection by the police.

Subject Nguyen Anh Tho at the police investigation agency. Photo: Thai Hien

During the 2 weeks of focusing on monitoring Tho's movements, the Task Force found that the agents sent messages to Tho to record lottery numbers. Tho compiled them in a notebook and announced the results after 6:30 p.m. every day. After this time, all messages would be deleted by the subjects.

At 5:15 p.m. on October 15, 2017, the Task Force decided to crack the case, arresting Nguyen Van Trong (born in 1974), residing in village 4, Phuc Son commune (Anh Son) while gambling by recording lottery numbers, confiscating 1 mobile phone, which contained all the messages sending "lottery numbers" to Nguyen Anh Tho. In a quick fight to capture the subject, the Task Force arrested Nguyen Anh Tho and confiscated 2 mobile phones and many documents and books recording lottery numbers.

Continuing to expand the investigation, the Special Task Force arrested the subjects who were big gamblers and agents of Nguyen Anh Tho, including: Nguyen Van Cong (born in 1991), residing in village 1; Nguyen Anh Dan (born in 1974), residing in village 3; Nguyen Thi Thuy (born in 1972), residing in village 5; Ngo Tri Tan (born in 1974), residing in village 3 (same commune of Phuc Son). Nguyen Van Quan (born in 1994), residing in village 15, Long Son commune; Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung (born in 1992), residing in block 2; Bui Ly Na (born in 1982), residing in block 4A, (same town of Anh Son); Thai Van Truong (born in 1986), residing in village 15, Long Son commune; Phan The Dung (born in 1994), residing in block 2, Muong Xen town (Ky Son district).

Subject Phan The Dung at the investigation agency. Photo: Thai Hien

Initially, the Police Investigation Agency determined that the amount of money bet on this line on the day of arrest was up to more than 300 million VND. Expanding the investigation, it was determined that within a period of 2 weeks, the amount of money the subjects used to bet on the lottery was estimated to be nearly 5 billion VND.

On October 20, 2017, the Investigation Police Agency of Anh Son District Police initiated a "gambling" case under Article 248 of the Penal Code and prosecuted 11 subjects who were agents in this gambling ring.
Currently, the Investigation Police Agency of Anh Son District is continuing to expand the case.

Thai Hien