Image Source Radio Free Asia

Laos deports 462 Chinese nationals following raid on gaming, tourism establishments in Bokeo

December 6, 2023 Laos Crime & Legal

A total of 462 Chinese nationals who were detained for a range of crimes, including human trafficking, in the northern Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone of Laos have been deported.

The accused were apprehended following a raid on a gaming and tourism establishment in the Bokeo area of Laos. They were deported to China at the International Border Checkpoint of Boten-Bohan.

The activities linked to contact centers involved in scams aimed at tricking victims into making false investments were the focus of the arrests. When employees at these contact centers refuse to work or don’t meet fraud quotas, they are often mistreated and abused.

This bears witness to the expulsion by Laos of 164 Chinese people in mid-September, 46 of whom were detained in the Bokeo Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Under US government sanctions, the SEZ is run by a Chinese businessman who runs a network of people trafficking.

Although many in the area welcomed the news and anticipated more safety, others expressed worry that the deportations would not deal with the root causes of these crimes in Laos. In order to battle criminal networks that may relocate in order to elude law enforcement, they emphasized the need for regional security agencies to work together.

There are concerns about the potential growth of criminal enterprises, including money laundering, and the Golden Triangle SEZ in Bokeo province has been the subject of scrutiny for unlawful activities. Detractors argue that addressing Laos’ inflation and unemployment rates is essential to reducing the vulnerabilities that allow leaders of fraud rings to recruit new members.

As part of a broader regional operation, 1,207 Chinese criminals who were apprehended at a call center in Myanmar were earlier repatriated by Myanmar officials. There are still challenges in the fight against human trafficking, despite the formation of a special force that includes Thailand, Myanmar, China, and Laos.