Major Prostitution Ring Bust in Ho Chi Minh City: Ringleader Arrested

Authorities in Vietnam have dealt a significant blow to a high-profile illegal prostitution network operating across various social media platforms. On January 31, the Criminal Police Department (C02) of the Ministry of Public Security announced the prosecution and detention of Nguyen Huu Thai (born 1998, residing in Tan Phu District, HCMC) for 'Procuring Prostitution.' The investigation revealed a sophisticated operation that utilized 'dark' corners of the internet to facilitate high-priced transactions involving models, actors, and singers. During the raid on a hotel in District 1, police caught two couples in the act, leading to the emergency search of Thai’s residence. Officers seized over 8.5 billion VND in cash and savings, along with multiple high-end smartphones used to manage the network.

Nguyen Huu Thai is no stranger to the law, having a prior conviction for illegal drug possession. Since his release in 2022, he shifted his focus to the digital underworld. Using fake female personas, he infiltrated Zalo groups to recruit sex workers and identify potential clients. He eventually transitioned his operations to Telegram, creating seven private 'VIP' groups with over 65,000 members. To join these groups, members were required to pay a subscription fee. Once inside, clients could browse profiles featuring photos, measurements, and 'fame levels' of the women. Prices for these services ranged from 5 million VND to hundreds of millions of VND, depending on the celebrity status of the individual involved.

Thai’s marketing strategy was aggressive and modern. He promoted his groups across TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, using multiple admin accounts to create an illusion of a massive, professional organization. The police found that the list of individuals involved was extensive, including professional sex workers, students, and social media influencers (KOLs). It is estimated that Thai profited over 15 billion VND from membership fees and commissions. This case highlights the growing challenge for law enforcement in tackling cyber-enabled crimes and the exploitation of celebrity culture for illegal activities. The Ministry of Public Security continues to investigate the full extent of the network and those who utilized Thai’s services.

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