71-year-old man runs gambling ring on boats in Ha Long Bay

Nguyen Dinh Minh, a resident of Hong Gai Ward, was detained along with 29 others by Quang Ninh provincial police for investigation into illegal gambling activities.

According to authorities, at around 4 p.m. on Jan. 2, local criminal police officers, working with the Ministry of Public Security's Criminal Police Department, inspected three fishing boats that had been moored close together near the Hon Dam Bac gorge area.

Inside, officers caught 30 people gambling in a traditional xoc dia dice game.

Police seized four metal tokens, a porcelain bowl-and-plate set used for the game, and more than VND436 million (US$18,000) in cash believed to have been used for betting.

Investigators identified Minh, who reportedly has four prior criminal convictions, as the ringleader of the operation. The case is being expanded as the investigation continues.