On 30/6, the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security announced that they, in coordination with the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Police (now Ho Chi Minh City Police), busted an illegal gambling ring led by 36-year-old Quoc Anh.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Police initiated legal proceedings against 68 individuals for gambling organization. Twelve key figures were detained, while the remaining 56 were placed under house arrest.
 |
Suspect Pham Quoc Anh. Photo: Police provided |
Suspect Pham Quoc Anh. Photo: Police provided
Initial investigations reveal that Quoc Anh and his wife, Le Thi My Dang, recruited relatives and approximately 70 others into business partnerships, establishing 15 lottery outlets. Anh had his brother-in-law and sister-in-law sign the business contracts with various companies.
All 15 outlets were strategically located in densely populated commercial areas with prominent storefronts. Anh also established a distinct brand identity, with all outlets having names ending in "Phat," a logo featuring the number 79 in a stylized blue circle on a white background, and matching staff uniforms.
However, authorities allege these locations served as a front for Anh's illegal lottery operation.
Police confirmed Anh's illegal lottery operation had been active since 2022, attracting thousands of gamblers. The daily gambling turnover reached an estimated 500 million VND. Anh acted as the bookmaker, handling all lottery bets.
Most transactions, both placing bets and receiving winnings, occurred in cash at the lottery outlets. Anh also assigned managers at each outlet to use intermediary bank accounts for transactions and ordered the daily destruction of betting slips.
Searches of the 15 outlets and the suspects' residences yielded over 1.6 billion VND, 661 betting slips, 78 mobile phones, and various related materials.
 |
Confiscated illegal lottery materials. Photo: Police provided |
Confiscated illegal lottery materials. Photo: Police provided
The C02 (Criminal Police Department) assesses that this operation exploited legitimate lottery outlets as a cover for a large-scale illegal lottery scheme. This activity negatively impacts the image and policies of both the official lottery and the state lottery. It also undermines the state's management of prize-based entertainment by relevant ministries and agencies.
