NINH BINH, VIETNAM – Police in Vietnam's northern Ninh Binh province have successfully dismantled a major, highly sophisticated illegal gambling ring, resulting in the criminal detention of 21 individuals.
The Ninh Binh Provincial Police's Criminal Police Department (PC02) announced on November 4 that they had successfully raided the gambling operation located in Duy Tan ward. The 21 subjects are being held on charges of "Organizing Gambling" and "Gambling."
The raid targeted a gambling den operated in the form of "xoc dia" (a traditional Vietnamese game of chance involving shaking tokens in a covered bowl) hosted at the private residence of Nguyen Thi Hien, 41, a resident of Duy Tan ward.
Authorities confirmed that the 21 detained individuals hail from various localities, including Ninh Binh, Nghe An province, and the capital city of Hanoi.
At the scene, police seized a significant amount of evidence, including:
Over 767 million VND (approximately $30,680 USD) in cash.
A ceramic bowl and plate used for the game.
Four gambling tokens (known as "quan vị").
Other tools and equipment used to facilitate the illegal gambling.
According to investigators, the ring operated with extreme sophistication to evade detection by authorities. Police stated the group's tactics included:
Secluded Locations: Organizers frequently rented spots in secluded, low-traffic areas to avoid drawing attention.
Organized Transport: Cars were arranged to transport gamblers directly to and from the gambling den.
Layered Security: The group established multiple rings of sentries and guards around the perimeter to act as lookouts.
Communications: Walkie-talkies were used by the sentries to instantly alert the gamblers inside of any potential police presence.
The case is currently being consolidated by the Ninh Binh police as they expand their investigation to process the subjects in accordance with Vietnamese law.