Sisters arrested for smuggling $4.5M across Laos-Vietnam border

Name: Sisters arrested for smuggling $4.5M across Laos-Vietnam border
Uploaded: 2024-12-10T10:05:12+07:00
Duration: 35 s
Description: Two sisters in central Ha Tinh Province have been arrested for allegedly smuggling cash worth $4.5 million across the Laos-Vietnam border, police said.

By Duc Hung December 9, 2024 | 07:05 pm PT

Two sisters in central Ha Tinh Province have been arrested for allegedly smuggling cash worth $4.5 million across the Laos-Vietnam border, police said.

Than Thi Huong, 54, and Than Thi Thanh, 47, were detained by Ha Tinh police for allegedly smuggling foreign currency notes across the border to profit from exchange rate differences.

Video vận chuyển tiền qua Lào — Police catch Than Thi Thanh red-handed and seize a large amount of dollar notes suspected of being illegally transported across the Vietnam-Laos border, Nov. 28, 2024 and question her sister Than Thi Huong. Video by the police

Thanh was caught on Nov. 28 at the Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh’s Huong Son District.

Authorities found $230,000 hidden in cardboard boxes in a Laos-registered car she was traveling in.

Thanh admitted to transporting the cash for her sister in exchange for a commission

Defendant Than Thi Thanh (third from left), arrested with evidence. Photo by the police

Than Thi Thanh (C) is placed under arrest along with the U.S. dollar notes she smuggled. Photo by the police

The same day, police arrested Huong and seized $7,700, 570,000 Japanese yen, 191.12 million Lao kip, and 142,000 Thai baht from her home.

Authorities claim the sisters have smuggled and traded $4.5 million to Laos since July 2023. Investigations are ongoing.