World Cup 2026: Ninh Bình dismantles football betting ring with transactions exceeding 710 billion VND

The Criminal Police Department of Ninh Bình Provincial Police recently took the lead, working alongside specialized units, to break up a football betting network linked to the 2026 World Cup, with total transaction values surpassing 710 billion VND, resulting in the detention of five suspects.

Ninh Bình dismantles football betting ring during the 2026 World Cup season

The arrested suspects include Lê Tuấn Minh (born 1996), Phạm Duy Long (born 1995, both residing in Nam Định ward, Ninh Bình province), Trần Việt Thắng (born 1996), Đỗ Hải Đăng (born 1993, both residing in Hoa Lư ward, Ninh Bình province), and Phạm Quốc Hiền (born 1977, residing at 42, Street 4, Dĩ An Administrative Center, Dĩ An ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

According to initial investigation results, Lê Tuấn Minh was identified as the "master agent," responsible for providing accounts to lower-level agents. These accounts were then further subdivided for individuals participating in football betting both within and outside Ninh Bình province, with the aim of illicit profit.

Investigators determined that this ring had attracted many people from various localities across the country to engage in online football betting, with total transaction values exceeding 710.4 billion VND. Particularly during the 2026 World Cup, from June 11 until the time of dismantlement, the amount used by the suspects for betting on gambling websites was approximately 145 billion VND.

Currently, the Criminal Police Department of Ninh Bình Provincial Police is continuing to expand the investigation, clarifying the roles of those involved for legal handling in accordance with regulations.

This is one of the notable achievements of the Ninh Bình Provincial Police during the peak campaign to attack and suppress crime as directed by the Provincial Police Director, particularly focusing on dealing with gambling and football betting rings during the 2026 World Cup.

Since the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Criminal Police Department of Ninh Bình Provincial Police has led and coordinated the dismantling of three online football betting rings, arresting and prosecuting 21 individuals. The total gambling transaction amount of these rings has been identified as nearly 2,000 billion VND.