(TAP) - Vietnamese authorities have dismantled the “Vieng Xay international cockfighting ring” in Laos - a sophisticated transnational gambling network, arresting two hundred and five suspects and confiscating a large quantity of related evidence.
Source: Facebook Bộ Công an Việt Nam
According to information posted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security on its official Facebook page on April 24, although the operation was based outside Vietnam’s territory, the network primarily targeted Vietnamese nationals, luring them to participate. Its gambling activities were run in a closed, highly structured system with clearly defined tiers, from leadership and management to service roles, ensuring continuity and tight control. The ringleaders all had prior criminal records and maintained stable operations at a fixed location, running the network on a continuous basis while overseeing the entire gambling process. This model went beyond illegal gambling, evolving into an underground “corporatized” operation with a clearly defined profit-sharing mechanism.
Based on collected documents and evidence, the authorities developed a comprehensive operational plan. On March 26, under the direct direction of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Long - Deputy Minister of Public Security, Head of the Special Investigative Task Force, multiple units simultaneously launched an operation to strike and dismantle the entire “Vieng Xay international cockfighting ring”, arresting two hundred and five suspects and clarifying the roles of ringleaders, organizers, and participants. The investigation determined that the network was led by Dao Anh Dung (born 1979, residing in Ha Dong Ward, Hanoi) and his wife Quach Thi Hang, who colluded with several other individuals to organize and operate the gambling activities.
The group operated on a shareholding investment model, with stakes ranging from 3% to 10%, equivalent to approximately VND 400 million to VND 1.5 billion per person, in order to build and operate a gambling network targeting Vietnamese players. To increase attraction, the group invested in on-site facilities such as dining areas, canteens, and accommodation rooms within the compound, enabling participants to stay and engage in gambling for extended periods. Their primary revenue came from a 5% “commission” (known as “xau”) taken from each winning bet, which was then redistributed based on capital contribution ratios. From January 29, 2026, until the time of the crackdown, the total revenue from this commission alone exceeded VND 13 billion. The total gambling transaction flow was estimated at over VND 1.2 trillion.
Notably, the network also expanded to online platforms via the website “tg999.live” and the Telegram group “truonggaviengxay999” Extracted data showed that thousands of Vietnamese accounts participated in online gambling, recording more than 10,000 transactions with a total value exceeding VND 150 billion within just a few months. The Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police has initiated legal proceedings and charged 196 suspects, including 60 individuals for “organizing gambling” and 136 for “gambling.” To date, 147 suspects have been placed in temporary detention for investigation purposes. The expansion of the investigation has also revealed additional alleged violations, including “unlawful detention” and “robbery,” which are currently under further clarification.
Source: Facebook Bộ Công an Việt Nam
Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and expand the scope of the investigation in order to comprehensively handle the case in accordance with legal regulations, while thoroughly dismantling this organized criminal network.
Trieu Ngan
