On 21/5, Ha Tinh provincial police temporarily detained Le Viet Trinh, 27, residing in Ninh Binh; Kim Thi Linh; Bui Quang Long, 25; Tran Thi Kim Ngan, 23; Nguyen Van Nang, 35; Nguyen The Chinh, 36; and Vu Van Tuan, 31. They face charges of money laundering and organizing illegal drug use.

Some suspects at the investigative agency. *Photo: Police provided*

According to the investigation, in early February, Trinh contacted an individual operating a casino in Cambodia via social media. This individual sought to convert illegal gambling profits into USDT cryptocurrency to conceal their origin.

Despite knowing this constituted illegal money laundering, Trinh organized and led the ring, recruiting many others to participate.

Investigators working with Le Viet Trinh, the ringleader. *Photo: Police provided*

The group opened multiple bank accounts to receive and circulate funds. Once money from gambling operations was deposited, Trinh and her accomplices conducted transactions through various intermediary accounts to erase traces. They then transferred or converted the funds into USDT cryptocurrency for downstream contacts.

To sustain operations, Trinh paid participants monthly salaries ranging from 12 to 17 million dong, plus 2,5 million dong for each account used to receive money. The ring profited approximately 2,5% of the total transaction value.

Investigators also determined that the ring was involved in several online fraud cases. These schemes included soliciting investments, online sales, and fake transactions. After obtaining funds illegally, the perpetrators used the accounts managed by Trinh’s group to legitimize the money flow.

Police working with suspects. *Video: Duc Quang*

According to the investigative agency, the ring laundered over 50 billion dong from February until its discovery. In one instance, a victim was defrauded of over 567 million dong on 16/4. The funds were then routed through multiple layers of accounts and converted into cryptocurrency to obscure their origin.

In addition to money laundering, authorities also uncovered that some suspects organized illegal drug use. Allegations state that on the evening of 6/5, in Tu Liem ward, Hanoi, Tuan and Long pooled money to purchase crystal meth. They then brought it back to a rented room in the Dinh Thon area to use with the group.

Drug test results indicated that Tuan, Long, Nang, and Chinh tested positive for drugs. Forensic analysis identified the seized samples as methamphetamine.

The investigation is ongoing.

Duc Hung