On 20/8, Thu Em (also known as "Ma Hanh", with two prior convictions) along with her son Nguyen Van Dang, 26, and three others were arrested by the Criminal Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police for loan sharking.

Lam Thi Thu Em (right) at the police station. Photo: Police provided

Investigators uncovered the loan sharking ring led by Thu Em and her son. The pair ran a smoothie shop on Dien Bien Phu Street (formerly in Binh Thanh District), which saw a steady stream of customers daily. However, these individuals primarily came to make payments and pay interest, not to purchase smoothies.

Records show the highest interest rate charged by Thu Em and her son reached 360% annually. If borrowers were late with payments, Thu Em's associates would visit their homes to threaten them and collect the debt.

Nguyen Van Dang at the police station. Photo: Police provided

Police recently raided multiple locations, arresting Thu Em, her son, and several others. The suspects admitted to operating since last year, offering loans ranging from 10 to 200 million VND through various schemes.

The investigation is ongoing.

Quoc Thang