Ten online gangsters and TikTokers caught in more than a month, from disorder to accounting violations and fraud

A series of online personalities once known for provocative livestreams, shocking statements and messages glorifying violence have found themselves facing legal action in Vietnam. The allegations range from public disorder and false advertising to fraud, accounting violations and suspected drug-related connections.

The campaign began on Aug. 7, when Bắc Ninh provincial police prosecuted Nguyễn Văn Hợi, known as Khánh Sky, for alleged public disorder and abuse of democratic freedoms that harmed the interests of the state and the lawful rights of organizations and individuals. Hồ Văn Khoa faced a public-disorder case, while Trần Đình Tiệp, known as Vua Quạt, faced a case under the same democratic-freedoms provision.

Investigators said the group had repeatedly livestreamed offensive arguments and insults to attract views, interaction and greater influence on social media. On Aug. 15, the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted and detained Bùi Xuân Huấn, known as Huấn Hoa Hồng, on allegations of serious accounting violations and fraud involving property appropriation. Investigators said he had raised tens of billions of Vietnamese dong in charitable donations from organizations and individuals, with signs that the money may have been misused.

Authorities also alleged that Huấn, his wife and accomplices sold perfume with total revenue exceeding 300 billion dong without issuing value-added tax invoices, keeping the revenue outside the accounting books. On Aug. 18, Hanoi police prosecuted Lê Văn Phú, known as Phú Lê, for serious accounting violations and the illegal printing, issuance and trading of invoices and receipts used for state-budget payments.

Investigators said Phú Lê and his wife had established three companies over roughly six years to sell cosmetics and functional foods. They promoted the products across social media, allegedly exaggerating their benefits, failed to record more than 107 billion dong in sales and created hundreds of sham invoices to legitimize inventory. The same day, Ninh Bình police prosecuted and detained Nguyễn Văn Thùy, known as Tế Điên, alleging that he had repeatedly livestreamed and posted false information about time served in prisons. The article also names Phạm Tuấn, Cô Giáo Hương, Hải Sapa and Sáng Con among those arrested.