According to Ho Chi Minh City Police, the group rented a hotel in Thuan Giao Ward for VND 315 million (approximately USD 12,100) per month as accommodation and a base for their equipment.
Police found 85 Chinese nationals at a hotel in Thuan Giao Ward (Photo: N.A.).
Authorities said the alleged ringleader, a 37-year-old Chinese national, admitted he had previously worked as a manager for a company operating in Cambodia. He was reportedly assigned by his employer to move to Vietnam, rent premises and organise operations in HCM City.
In early May, the suspect and his 28-year-old wife entered Vietnam through Tan Son Nhat International Airport to prepare the location, receive other members and install equipment. Police said the group had not yet begun operations before being detected.
The suspects were believed to be involved in high-tech fraud (Photo: N.A.).
Investigators found that all equipment had been transported from Cambodia into Vietnam. Authorities seized around 400 devices, including desktop computers, mobile phones and tablets.
Among the 85 suspects, 17 were found to have entered Vietnam illegally without declaration procedures. Most reportedly came from Guangzhou and Guangxi in China, entering Vietnam by small boats, land crossings and informal border routes. Others were allegedly transported from Cambodia into Vietnam by motorbike through unofficial border paths.
Police said several suspects claimed their passports were confiscated by “managers” immediately after arrival and that they were taken directly to the hotel in HCM City.
Equipment and devices seized by police (Photo: N.A.).
In a separate case, authorities also identified a group of 30 Philippine nationals staying suspiciously at a hotel in Cho Lon Ward. The group reportedly arrived from Cambodia, while some had traveled from Malaysia. Investigators said five Taiwanese suspects connected to the group admitted to previously participating in transnational scam operations in Cambodia.
On May 20, police also inspected an apartment on Nguyen Huu Canh Street and discovered 11 Chinese nationals possessing multiple network connected electronic devices suspected of being used for cybercrime activities.