Laos Deports 41 Thai Nationals Linked to Online Gambling

Laos has deported 41 Thai nationals accused of working for online gambling operations following a crackdown in Vientiane that also targeted suspected trafficking and scam networks.

The group, consisting of 30 women and 11 men, was handed over to Thai authorities at the Nong Khai border on August 10. Lao authorities had detained them during an operation carried out on July 22.

Following their return, Thai officials found no immediate evidence that any of the 41 had been victims of trafficking. None of the individuals was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant.

Authorities did, however, establish that all 41 had previously worked as administrators for gambling websites in Cambodia before travelling to Laos.

Workers Moved From Cambodia to Laos

According to the information gathered during the screening, the group left Cambodia after fighting erupted along the Thai-Cambodian border. They subsequently returned to Thailand before travelling together into Laos through the Nong Khai checkpoint.

After arriving in Vientiane, the group rented accommodation and allegedly established a base for online gambling activities.

During questioning, the returnees admitted to working for three gambling websites. Their responsibilities involved administrative work, with shifts lasting 12 hours.

The reported salaries varied between the operations. Employees associated with Maha Heng 777 received 400 baht per day, while those working for UFA were paid 15,000 baht per month. Workers linked to 365 reportedly received 18,000 baht monthly.

The case highlights how the same group of workers had moved between gambling operations in different countries, travelling from Cambodia to Laos before being deported to Thailand.

Crackdown Forms Part of Wider Lao Action

The arrests took place as Lao authorities increased enforcement against illegal gambling networks alongside operations targeting suspected trafficking and scam activities.

The July 22 operation followed another case earlier in the month, when Laos returned 24 Thai nationals to Thailand after linking them to alleged call-centre scam operations. Thai authorities later discovered that two of those individuals were subject to existing arrest warrants.

In the latest case involving the 41 gambling workers, authorities found no outstanding warrants and did not identify any trafficking victims.

Their deportation nevertheless illustrates the cross-border nature of the networks under investigation, with workers moving between neighbouring countries and taking administrative positions within online gambling operations before the Lao crackdown ended their activities.