ASEAN, China strengthen cooperation in combating cryptocurrency-based online gambling crimes

The workshop was attended by representatives from law enforcement agencies of the ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste and China, as well as experts and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Vietnam Blockchain Association.

Under the theme “Techniques for Tracing and Analysing Cryptocurrency Transactions,” the workshop focused on three key topics: Creating a forum for timely information exchange on methods, tactics and operational trends of online gambling networks; enhancing professional knowledge and capacity for law enforcement agencies, particularly in cryptocurrency transaction tracking and analysis; and promoting connection, experience sharing and sustainable cooperation among law enforcement agencies, experts and relevant stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Relations Senior Colonel Doan Anh Minh emphasized that the “gambling-fraud” model has been expanding in several countries, undermining regional security and stability, explaining that no single country can effectively address this transnational crime without close coordination.

Senior Colonel Doan Anh Minh stressed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and proactively promotes international cooperation, especially within the ASEAN framework and with China, in order to improve the effectiveness of combating such crime.

For the Chinese side, Deputy Director of the Cybersecurity Protection Bureau under China’s Ministry of Public Security Zhang Shuo highlighted that transnational online gambling, particularly that involving cryptocurrencies, is rapidly increasing in both scale and complexity, posing serious threats to regional security, social order and financial systems of countries.

On that basis, China called on ASEAN countries to strengthen cooperation in three major areas: Enhancing information sharing and establishing mechanisms for handling evidence and freezing cross-border assets; improving the effectiveness of law enforcement coordination; and promoting experience sharing, training and capacity building in cryptocurrency tracing and electronic evidence collection.

Within the framework of the workshop, delegates engaged in in-depth discussions on legal frameworks and challenges to cryptocurrency management.

Participants also identified emerging criminal methods involving the use of cryptocurrencies for online gambling and cross-border money laundering, as well as shared their hands-on experiences in financial investigation, fund tracking, electronic evidence collection and digital asset handling.

Delegates reached broad consensus on the importance of international cooperation, inter-agency coordination and the participation of the private sector, particularly cryptocurrency exchange and blockchain analysis firms, underscoring that the multiple cooperation can help improve the efficiency of detecting, preventing and handling such crime.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of preventive measures, including improving awareness of crime prevention of the public, especially young people who are most vulnerable to online gambling.

The event concluded successfully, helping the participating delegations strengthen mutual understanding, share valuable hands-on experiences and promote regional cooperation in combating cryptocurrency-based online gambling, thereby contributing to regional security, order and sustainable development.