The former head of the high-tech division under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has been arrested for being involved in a large-scale gambling ring.

Officers in the northern province of Phu Tho on Sunday captured and initiated legal proceedings against Major General Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former head of the high-tech division, which is managed by the general police department under the Ministry of Public Security.

Hoa is allegedly involved in a gambling ring that is worth over VND1 trillion ($43.9 million).

The arrest has been approved by the provincial People’s Procuracy.

During a press conference of the Ministry of Public Security on January 15, several reporters brought up rumors on social media regarding the involvement of Maj. Gen. Hoa in a huge gambling ring.

The information also mentioned a former leader of the general police department.

On January 29, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh announced that police in Phu Tho Province had broken up the illegal ring, which organized gambling across nations.

Officers also confiscated more than VND1 trillion.

In addition, the amount of foreign currency which was sent overseas via the gambling activities was estimated at $3.6 million.

During a meeting on Sunday morning, the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee ordered a further investigation into the case of organizing gambling, gambling, fraud and money-laundering in Phu Tho.

This is a very serious, complicated, and sensitive case on an especially large scale, the Secretariat stated, adding that it involved numerous sectors, localities, and individuals, including members of the police force.

The Ministry of Public Security later tasked the Department of Police and competent authorities in Phu Tho with probing the case.

Further investigation is ongoing, a police official stated, adding reports on social media would continue to be verified.

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