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The Indian embassy in Laos said on Saturday that 47 Indians trapped in cyber scam centres in the country’s Bokeo province had been rescued. So far, the embassy has rescued 635 Indians trapped in similar circumstances and facilitated their return to India, it added.
Of the 47 people rescued on Saturday, 29 were handed over to the embassy by Lao authorities after their crackdown on illegal activities in the Golden Triangle special economic zone area in Bokeo, while 18 others had approached the embassy in distress, seeking help, a statement issued by the Indian embassy in Vientiane said.
Embassy officials travelled from the capital Vientiane to Bokeo to liaise with local authorities for the rescue of the Indian citizens, the statement said. Indian Ambassador to Laos, Prashant Agrawal, met the group upon their arrival in Vientiane to discuss the challenges they faced, and to advise further course of action.
With all the procedural requirements for their repatriation to India already completed, 30 Indians have already returned or are on their way, while the remaining 17 are awaiting the finalisation of travel arrangements and will leave Laos soon, the embassy said.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Vientiane last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a slew of meetings with his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of trafficking of Indian citizens through cyber scam centres and sought their early return. Hundreds of Indians are believed to have been stuck in the three countries with gangs running cyber scams, who lure them through lucrative job offers.
“During my call on the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, took up the issue of the trafficking of Indian nationals through cyber scam centres. Appreciate the ongoing cooperation of Lao PDR government in the rescue and relief of our citizens. Also discussed the matter with the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand,” Jaishankar had said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Agrawal emphasised that “any request for help received from those in distress is taken up urgently by the Embassy and promptly and all due assistance extended”.
“The embassy has so far rescued 635 Indians and ensured their safe return to India. We thank Lao authorities for their help and cooperation. We have also urged action at their end against unscrupulous elements and the matter has been raised at the highest levels,” the statement said.
It also advised Indian citizens planning to take up any job offer in Laos “to exercise utmost care and caution, and do the due diligence thoroughly to avoid being duped”.
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