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.

Gambling scene when police raided and arrested. (Photo by investigation agency)

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

The gambling ring has a very sophisticated method of operation. The subjects often move and change locations in districts, cities and 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 guards and people collecting the money.

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

Nghi Loc District Police identified the leader 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 was just released from prison for extortion. Nghi Loc District Police 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 - Economic - Drug Crime Investigation Team, 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 about 11:00 p.m. on May 8, the investigation team 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 11:50 p.m. on the same day, officers and soldiers of Nghi Loc district police and coordinating units raided the gambling den, causing 42 subjects here to be engrossed in gambling with each other by shaking the dice without time to react.

The seized evidence included 155,990,000 VND on the gambling mat; 4 sets of dishes 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.