$160,000 seized as police bust gambling ring at HCMC luxury hotel on New Year's Day

Name: $160,000 seized as police bust gambling ring at HCMC luxury hotel on New Year's Day
Uploaded: 2025-01-02T13:25:18+07:00
Duration: 1 min
Description: Dozens of police officers raided the Ramana Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on New Year's Day, dismantling a gambling operation involving games valued at tens of billions of dong.

By Quoc Thang January 1, 2025 | 10:25 pm PT

Pham Trinh Phong, alleged leader of a gambling ring, at a police station in HCMC. Photo courtesy of the police

Dozens of police officers raided the Ramana Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on New Year's Day, dismantling a gambling operation involving games valued at tens of billions of dong.

HCMC police on Jan. 1 arrested 12 suspects, including Pham Trinh Phong, 49, identified as the ringleader, and Pham Thi Thanh Hang, 45, for gambling and organizing gambling activities. Seven others were also detained for related offenses.

The raid was conducted at the Diamond Club, located inside the Ramana Saigon Hotel on Le Van Sy Street in District 3. According to authorities, the club's investors exploited a license allowing foreigners to play reward-based video games to illegally organize gambling for Vietnamese nationals.

Công an TP HCM đột kích sòng bạctrong khách sạn — HCMC police raid a gambling ring at the Ramana Saigon hotel, Jan. 1, 2025. Video courtesy of the police

During the operation, officers seized over $146,000 in cash, VND500 million ($19,642), and various other pieces of evidence.

Investigators revealed that Phong had orchestrated the scheme, instructing Hang and others to lure Vietnamese participants into the illegal gambling activities. Daily transaction values at the club were reported to reach up to $725,000.

The case remains under investigation.