fp-logo
Indian embassy rescues 67 nationals from cyber-scam centres in Laos

Indian embassy rescues 67 nationals from cyber-scam centres in Laos

FP Staff January 27, 2025, 18:12:07 IST

In a post on X, Embassy of India in Laos said that the victims were duped, trafficked into cyber-scam centres and forced to work under intimidation and abuse by criminal syndicates

read more
Advertisement
Indian embassy rescues 67 nationals from cyber-scam centres in Laos
Embassy officials quickly responded to the youth's requests for assistance, offering the necessary help and arranging their transport from Bokeo to Vientiane. Image Courtesy: @IndianEmbLaos

Embassy of India in Laos on Monday said that it rescued as many as 67 Indian nationals from cyber-scam centres in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in Bokeo Province of Lao PDR.

Advertisement

Taking to X, the embassy said that the victims were duped, trafficked into cyber-scam centres and forced to work under intimidation and abuse by criminal syndicates.

Embassy officials quickly responded to the youth’s requests for assistance, offering the necessary help and arranging their transport from Bokeo to Vientiane.

“A team of Embassy officials travelled to GTSEZ at once and worked closely with concerned Lao authorities to achieve required procedures and paperwork to enable them to leave GTSEZ and travel to the Embassy in Vientiane,” Embassy of India in Laos said in a statement.

Ambassador Prashant Agrawal met with the rescued Indians, reassuring them of their safety and the embassy’s full support for their return to India. The ambassador also guided them on the next steps, including filing complaints against the agents who deceived them.

The embassy said that officials are currently collaborating closely with the relevant Lao authorities to finalise their exit formalities, after which they will return to India shortly.

“We thank Lao authorities for their cooperation. We have also requested action at their end against unscrupulous elements and the matter has been raised at the highest levels,” the statement added.

Advertisement

This rescue brings the total number of Indians saved in Laos to 924, with 857 having already returned to India.

The embassy also cautioned Indian youth about job offers in Laos that could involve cyber-scam activities.

“Indian youth who may have been promised a job in Thailand, but upon arrival there, are asked to travel by road to Chiang Rai close to the Thai-Lao border, are cautioned that this is a sure indication that they are being trafficked to GTSEZ in Lao PDR. Once they arrive in GTSEZ, their passports may be taken away by criminal syndicates and they are made to sign a so-called ‘work contract’ in a foreign language, which endangers them to exploitation,” the embassy said in the advisory.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies

Tags
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
End of Article