Police in Ho Chi Minh City, working with law enforcement agencies in several provinces, have dismantled two large illegal football betting networks that handled more than VND3.5 trillion (US$134 million) in transactions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The investigation resulted in 85 suspects being charged, while 150 people were detained or questioned as part of the operation.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Police, officers from the Criminal Police Division identified Huynh Le Thanh Long and several associates as allegedly organizing and participating in illegal football betting activities across Ho Chi Minh City and multiple other provinces.

Recognizing the scale and sophistication of the operation, investigators launched a special investigation in early June.

By late June, the investigative task force, working alongside police in Lam Dong Province and other localities, simultaneously carried out coordinated raids and summoned suspects for questioning.

During questioning, Huynh Le Thanh Long, Nguyen Viet Bao Long, Hua Ba An, Tran Le Tuan Kiet, Tran Anh Dung, Le Thanh Tien, Hoang Tan Phat, and other alleged participants admitted their involvement, according to investigators.

Investigators said the group obtained master betting accounts from operators in Cambodia before dividing them into multiple agent and member accounts.

These accounts were then distributed to bettors in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, allowing them to place wagers through the betting website Bong88.com.

Preliminary findings indicate that from October 2025 until the network was uncovered, the two betting operations processed more than VND3.5 trillion (US$134 million) in gambling transactions.

Police said the organization operated through a tightly structured hierarchy with activities extending across multiple provinces.

Based on the evidence collected, investigators have opened criminal proceedings and formally charged 85 suspects with the offenses of organizing gambling and gambling.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as officers continue gathering evidence to pursue additional suspects allegedly connected to the two betting networks.

Dam De