Fugitive arrested after 9 years on the run, having undergone plastic surgery

Authorities in Vietnam have apprehended Nguyen Thi Luu, a fugitive wanted for a significant real estate fraud scheme. Luu, who led a real estate brokerage company, is accused of defrauding 68 individuals out of more than 26.5 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $1 million USD) between 2015 and 2017.

She allegedly used deceptive tactics, including fabricating information about non-existent land plots and employing counterfeit land use rights certificates. Following her indictment in August 2017, Luu absconded before facing legal proceedings. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for her in September 2017.

For nearly nine years, Luu remained at large, reportedly altering her appearance through plastic surgery and using fake identification to evade law enforcement. Her capture in Ho Chi Minh City highlights the police's commitment to pursuing fugitives and ensuring that all illegal acts are met with strict legal consequences, thereby maintaining public order and trust.