42 gamblers caught gambling at midnight in Nghe An

On the morning of May 14, the Nghi Loc District Police Department announced: Under the direction of Colonel Nguyen Manh Hung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Provincial Police, Nghi Loc District Police have dismantled a professional gambling ring in the area. Initially, 28 subjects were arrested and detained for gambling, organizing gambling and gambling; nearly 156 million VND and related exhibits were seized.

The scene of the gambling den when the authorities raided and arrested. (Photo by the investigation agency)

According to the investigation agency: Through the work of checking and grasping the situation of the area, the Criminal Police Team on Criminal - Economic - Drug Crimes of the unit discovered in early May 2020 in Nghi Loc district and neighboring districts a professional gambling ring appeared. This ring gathered many professional gamblers inside and outside Nghe An province as well as notorious subjects with criminal records in the area. The gambling and gambling organization of the subjects caused insecurity and created indignation among the people.

The gambling ring has a very sophisticated modus operandi. The subjects frequently move and change locations in districts, cities, towns such as Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Vinh city, Cua Lo town and even Ha Tinh province. The locations chosen for gambling are solid high-rise buildings with closed gates and high walls. On the other hand, the subjects do not come to the gambling locations themselves but are taken by car to avoid detection by the police force. At each gambling den, there are people on guard and people collecting the money.

Some evidence seized at the scene. (Photo by investigation agency)

Nghi Loc District Police identified the ringleader of the gambling ring in Nghi Loc District as Pham Van Thong, also known as “Thong Trung” (born in 1981), residing in Hamlet 5, Nghi Phong Commune (Nghi Loc). Thong has just been released from prison for extortion. Nghi Loc District Police have established a special project, determined to eradicate this gang. The project mobilized 60 officers and soldiers from the District Police’s professional teams led by the Criminal Investigation Team on Crimes - Economics - Drugs, with the coordination of Police 113, Department PC06 of the Provincial Police.

Pham Van Thong - the leader of a professional gambling ring in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Nhat Tuan

At around 11pm on May 8, the task force determined that the subjects would gather to gamble on the second floor of the house of Nguyen Van Quoc (born in 1994), residing in Xuan Trang hamlet, Nghi Xuan commune (Nghi Loc), so they decided to crack the case. Although the gambling den was located in a closed area with high walls and guards, using professional measures, at 11:50pm on the same day, officers and soldiers of Nghi Loc district police and coordinating units raided the gambling den, causing 42 subjects there to be engrossed in gambling with each other by shaking the dice without having time to react.

The seized exhibits included 155,990,000 VND on the gambling mat; 4 sets of bowls and plates and 8 dice; 33 mobile phones; 1 16-seat car to transport the subjects to the gambling location. The authorities also temporarily seized other evidence used for gambling, money and other assets totaling over 500 million VND.

The subjects identified as being involved in gambling, organizing gambling and gambling are being detained. Photo: Nhat Tuan

Initially, the investigation agency clarified and decided to temporarily detain 28 subjects related to gambling, organizing gambling and gambling (including 16 subjects residing in Nghi Loc district, 8 subjects in Cua Lo town, 2 subjects in Dien Chau district, 1 subject in Nghia Dan district and 1 subject in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province).

Currently, the Project is continuing to be investigated and expanded to clarify the roles of the remaining subjects.