Seven Arrested in Vietnam for $1.9M Casino Money Laundering

Photo courtesy of VN Express

Seven Vietnamese nationals have been arrested for allegedly managing a money-laundering operation that funneled over VND50 billion ($1.9 million) in illegal casino proceeds from Cambodia into USDT over a three-month period. Investigators revealed that 27-year-old Le Viet Trinh was contacted in February by a social media user with a Chinese-character account, believed to run a Cambodian casino. The operator sought assistance in converting illicit gambling income into USDT to camouflage the funds’ origin, leading Trinh to establish and oversee the laundering operation.

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Trinh, conscious of the illegality, recruited a team and opened several bank accounts to handle and transfer the funds. The team used intermediary accounts to obscure the money trail before converting it into USDT. The operation was further promoted on social media channels specializing in laundering, drawing additional business from online fraudsters. Trinh compensated her recruits with a monthly salary between VND12-17 million ($456-646) and a bonus of VND2.5 million ($95) per account used.

On May 21, Ha Tinh Provincial Police apprehended the group for money laundering and organizing narcotics use. The network was also linked to online fraud and investment scams. One notable case involved a woman from Thai Nguyen Province, who lost over VND567 million ($21,500) to fraudsters. Her money was later funneled through the laundering network, making it difficult to trace.

The investigation continues as authorities examine the full extent of the operation's connections to other fraudulent activities.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 22 May 2026