Representatives of Đà Nẵng visit the city's criminal police unit after a large-scale online betting ring was smashed  in the city. Photo courtesy Đà Nẵng Public Security Newspaper

ĐÀ NẴNG — A large-scale online betting ring had been smashed by police in the central city after a five-month investigation, major general and director of the city’s Public Security Department Vũ Văn Viên said, adding that the total value of the betting ring was worth VNĐ10 trillion (US$435 million).

Local police arrested 11 people related to the ring during a raid in Thanh Khê District last week, seizing VNĐ3 billion ($130,000) in cash, two cars, 27 mobile phones and a gun.

The investigating agency said the ring had set up an account to bet with an online banker abroad.

Bùi Mạnh Trí, 35, the mastermind of the ring, fled the city before the raid.

An initial report released by police on Thursday said VNĐ6.25 trillion ($272 million) had been transferred through the betting account since May 2020.

Two key operators – Lê Hà Việt Hưng and Bùi Văn Nhân – were escorted from HCM City to Đà Nẵng for further investigation.

This is the largest online gambling gang to be busted in Đà Nẵng. 

The case is under further investigation.

In a separate raid, a narcotics unit also arrested two women transporting 1kg of suspected ketamine from Nghệ An to Đà Nẵng.

Lê Thị Hải, 23, and Võ Thị Ánh, 25, said they bought the drugs from an identified men in Nghệ An. — VNS