Lao officials have deported 41 Thai nationals who allegedly operated online gambling websites from Vientiane following a crackdown on illegal networks conducted by authorities earlier this month. The group was received at the Territorial Defence Volunteer Company in Mueang district, Nong Khai, Thailand on August 10 after being arrested during operations targeting human trafficking and scammers that began July 22. Initial screening confirmed none of the individuals were victims of human trafficking or had outstanding arrest warrants prior to their deportation from Laos.
The deportees comprised 30 women and 11 men who admitted working as administrators for three gambling websites, including Maha Heng 777, UFA, and 365. They worked in shifts lasting up to 12 hours daily with varying pay rates reported between operations, such as 400 baht per day or monthly earnings of 18,000 baht. The group had previously established a base for online gambling activities after crossing the border and working in Cambodia before being caught by Lao authorities on July 22.
This operation follows another similar crackdown earlier in July where Laos handed over 24 Thai nationals linked to call centre scam operations at the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Chiang Rai, with two members of that group having outstanding arrest warrants. While clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border reportedly influenced their movements prior to capture, all returned together through the Nong Khai checkpoint and were processed by Thai officials for deportation back home.
Discussion is welcome regarding how these cross-border operations impact regional labor regulations.