On July 23, Lai Chau Provincial Police announced the initial results of Investigation Case No. 0726L, which targeted an alleged online fraud syndicate operating in Bokeo Province.

Working closely with law enforcement agencies in Laos, police arrested 40 Vietnamese nationals who are now undergoing legal procedures before being transferred to Vietnam for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.

International cooperation

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Investigators from Lai Chau Provincial Police meet with leaders of Bokeo Provincial Police and Lao public security agencies during the joint operation.

According to Lai Chau Provincial Police, the operation highlights close cooperation between Vietnamese and Lao law enforcement agencies.

On July 16, Lai Chau Provincial Police submitted a report to Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Long, seeking approval to establish a special investigation and dispatch a task force to Laos to investigate the alleged online fraud group.

A day later, Investigation Case No. 0726L was officially established to dismantle the suspected transnational criminal network.

To ensure the effectiveness of the operation, the Director of Lai Chau Provincial Police deployed several task forces to Laos.

On July 19, a delegation led by Senior Colonel Pham Hai Dang, Deputy Director and Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Lai Chau Provincial Police, traveled to Vientiane to oversee the investigation.

In the Lao capital, the delegation worked with the representative office of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security in Laos and met Lieutenant General Kong San Vat Bun Lieng, Deputy Minister and Director General of the General Police Department under Laos' Ministry of Public Security.

Following the meeting, Lao authorities assigned the Anti-Human Trafficking Department and Bokeo Provincial Police to coordinate directly with Lai Chau Provincial Police in verifying information and apprehending the suspects.

Forty suspects arrested, including one wanted by police

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Senior Colonel Pham Hai Dang (front row, far right) escorts suspects arrested during the operation in Bokeo Province. Photo: Duc Phong.

Preliminary investigators said the alleged ringleader recruited Vietnamese nationals and brought them to rented houses in Tonpheung Commune, Bokeo Province.

The group allegedly installed computers and telecommunications equipment before carrying out online fraud schemes while impersonating insurance company employees.

According to investigators, the suspects primarily used virtual call center numbers to contact victims using databases containing information on primary school students and their parents.

The callers instructed victims to update the VNeID application and link their social security and health insurance information to their bank accounts.

They then sent victims a fake QR code described as an application file, instructing them to scan it in order to complete the verification process.

Investigators allege that the QR code enabled the suspects to steal money from victims' bank accounts.

Police said the network allegedly defrauded more than 1,000 victims nationwide and stole more than VND5 billion (US$191,000) between early June 2026 and the time of the arrests.

On July 19 and 20, Lai Chau Provincial Police, together with the representative office of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security in Laos, Laos' Anti-Human Trafficking Department and Bokeo Provincial Police, carried out coordinated raids and arrested all 40 Vietnamese suspects in Tonpheung Commune.

At the scene, authorities seized 56 mobile phones, 49 computers allegedly used in the operation and numerous other items and documents.

Among the 40 suspects, investigators identified one alleged manager and one person responsible for accounting and financial records.

The suspects come from 15 provinces and cities across Vietnam, including 13 individuals from Lai Chau Province.

Investigators also found that three suspects had previous criminal convictions for intentional assault, theft and illegal possession of narcotics.

In addition, one suspect was wanted by Hanoi Police on allegations of theft.

Rapid drug screening showed that 16 of the 40 suspects tested positive for narcotics, according to police.

After Lao authorities formally handed over all 40 suspects and the seized evidence, Lai Chau Provincial Police completed the required legal procedures to transfer the group to Lai Chau Province for further investigation and handling in accordance with Vietnamese law.

Doan Bong - Xuan Minh