After an extensive investigation, police in Lam Dong province have dismantled a massive money laundering operation worth 2,000 billion VND (approximately $80 million) in Da Lat City.

Today (March 13), the Lam Dong Provincial Police Department announced that the Criminal Investigation Division, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Unit, successfully broke up a large-scale money laundering network operating in Da Lat.

Authorities have arrested 23 individuals in connection with the scheme, which was allegedly laundering billions of dong through illicit transactions linked to overseas entities.

Sophisticated criminal network uncovered

At the beginning of 2025, investigators noticed suspicious activity in Ward 7, Da Lat City, involving a group of individuals from various regions who kept a low profile and rarely interacted with locals.

Their online transactions and communications were highly encrypted, and police traced links to criminal organizations in Cambodia.

In response, the provincial police leadership ordered a joint operation between the Criminal Investigation Division and the Cybersecurity Unit to track down the network.

Following months of surveillance, on March 12, a task force of 50 officers raided multiple locations, including an apartment on Tu Tao Street in Ward 11, Da Lat.

Suspects attempted to flee and destroy evidence

Upon spotting the officers, suspects inside the apartment - who were actively using laptops - panicked and attempted to escape. However, all exit routes had been sealed off. Some individuals tried to destroy evidence, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Police confiscated two laptops, nearly 30 mobile phones, dozens of bank cards, SIM cards, and other items believed to be linked to illegal transactions.

Additionally, investigators discovered detailed financial records, lists of transactions, and instructions on how to handle the laundered funds. The total estimated amount of money moved through the network exceeded 2,000 billion VND ($80 million).

Key figures in the operation identified

Among the 23 arrested, Phan Thi Be (29) and Le Van Diep (27), both from Ha Tinh province, were identified as central figures in the operation.

According to Be's confession, she set up a financial hub for the criminal organization in late 2024, choosing Da Lat as their base of operations due to its large influx of tourists and relatively low police scrutiny. All transactions were conducted exclusively online to avoid detection.

Be and Diep recruited members from multiple provinces, bringing them to Da Lat, where they rented apartments to operate. The group opened dozens of bank accounts to move illicit funds, mainly sourced from online scams, illegal gambling, and smuggling.

The money was transferred through multiple layers of transactions to obscure its origin before being sent abroad.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify additional suspects and trace the full extent of the network's international connections.

Xuan Ngoc