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The sisters were arrested for smuggling 4.5 million dollars across the border of Laos and Vietnam

The sisters were arrested for smuggling 4.5 million dollars across the border of Laos and Vietnam

By Duc Hung Dec 9, 2024 | 7:05 PM PT

Two sisters in central Ha Tinh province have been arrested on charges of smuggling $4.5 million in cash across the border between Laos and Vietnam, police said.

Than Thi Huong, 54, and Than Thi Thanh, 47, were arrested by Ha Tinh police on charges of smuggling foreign currency notes across the border to profit from exchange rate differences.

Video đến đết tiến qua Lào

Police arrested Thanh Thi Thanh red-handed and seized a large number of dollar bills suspected of being smuggled across the Vietnam-Laos border on November 28, 2024, and questioned her sister Thanh Thi Huong. Police video

Thanh was caught on November 28 at the Cau Treo International Border in Huong Son District of Hatin.

Authorities found $230,000 hidden in cardboard boxes in the Lao-registered car she was driving.

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

Defendant Thanh Thi Thanh (third from left) arrested with evidence. Police photo

Thanh Thi Thanh (C) was placed under arrest along with the US dollar notes she had smuggled. Police photo

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 say the sisters smuggled and sold $4.5 million to Laos since July 2023. The investigation is ongoing.