Police in HCM City and Cần Thơ City this week busted two gambling rings, arresting about 73 people and seizing VNĐ474 million (US$20,800) in cash.

Two gambling rings were busted by police in Cần Thơ City and HCM City on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. 

At a villa on TL24 Street in HCM City’s District 12, 33 people were arrested on Thursday for organising gambling and taking part in gambling. Thirty-two motorbikes and VNĐ100 million (US$4,400) in cash were confiscated.

Nguyễn An Thạnh, 31, a resident of TX15 Street in District 12, was the ringleader, according to police.

Thạnh told police that he had been renting the villa on TL24 Street for VNĐ6 million (US$264) per month for gambling activities since March.

Four big screens and two computers in the villa showed live results of international cockfights, while four additional rooms that Thanh had built outside the villa were used for gambling activities.

Though he was the leader, he rarely visited the villa, but instead hired Nguyễn Tấn Tài, 39, to handle management tasks and Nguyễn Hoàng Vũ, 33, to take care of money flow. Nguyễn Thanh Hoa, 20, was hired to manage food services.

Twenty to 60 gamblers visited the villa every day.

The police are continuing their investigation.

In Cần Thơ City, on Wednesday, 100 police and other officials caught 40 gamblers in the Thới Thạnh area in Thốt Nốt District.

They seized VNĐ374 million ($16,400) in cash, 41 mobilephones, 27 motorbikes, 19 cocks and 39 card decks, among other items.

This ring was led by Nguyễn Văn Lến, 47, a resident of An Giang Province’s Long Xuyên City, police said. 

VNS