Ministry of Public Security (Laos)

Ministry of Public Security
ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ
Agency overview
Formed5 April 1961
JurisdictionNational
Headquarters
Employees(unknown)
Annual budget(unknown)
Agency executives
  • Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamfong, Minister
  • Lieutenant General Kongthong Phongvichith, Deputy Minister
  • Lieutenant General Thonglek Mangnormex, Deputy Minister
Websitehttp://www.laosecurity.gov.la

The Ministry of Public Security (Lao language: ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ) is the ministry of the interior of Laos. The current minister is Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamfong.

Structure and organization

The Ministry of Public Security comprises several "branches of service", which include the local police, traffic police, immigration police, border police, and other police units.

Traffic Police Department

The Traffic Police Department is responsible for ensuring road safety for people using vehicles to prevent accidents and ensure safety. The Traffic Police handled almost 6800 road accidents in 2025 alone.

Public Security Department

The Public Security Department is responsible for maintaining public order via suppressing rioters, robbers, criminals, etc.

Central Security Department

The Central Security Department is responsible for protecting high-ranking officials and key government facilities in Laos.

List of Ministers of Public Security

International cooperation

In order to increase its capacity to address issues such as the illegal drugs trade and human trafficking, the Ministry of Public Security has established working relations with a number of foreign government agencies and international organisations, including UNODC and UNICEF.

Human rights issues

The security forces subjected to the ministry have occasionally been accused of human rights violations. Their persecution of Christians in Laos is among the heaviest in the world. Particularly, members of the Hmong ethnic group have been subject to violence by security forces.

Ranks

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Laos Laos Police
ພົນເອກ
Phonoek		 ພົນໂທ
Phonoth		 ພົນຕີ
Phon ti		 ພົນຈັດຕະວາ
Phonchadtauaa		 ພັນເອກ
Phanoek		 ພັນໂທ
Phanoth		 ພັນຕີ
Phan ti		 ຮ້ອຍເອກ
Honyoek		 ຮ້ອຍໂທ
Hony oth		 ຮ້ອຍຕີ
Hony ti
Enlisted
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Laos Laos Police
ວາທີ
Va thi		 ສິບເອກ
Sib ek		 ສິບໂທ
Sib oth		 ສິບຕີ
Sib ti		 ຊັ້ນຫນຶ່ງ
Sannung		 ຊັ້ນສອງ
Sansong

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Traffic Police Announce Strict Road Safety Measures for Lao New Year 2026". kpl.gov.la. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  2. ↑ "Laos Traffic Police Handle Nearly 6,800 Accidents as Authorities Intensify Road Safety Measures". kpl.gov.la. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  3. ↑ Amnesty International
  4. ↑ Open Doors USA