The Indian embassy in Laos made an announcement on Saturday that it successfully rescued 47 Indians who were held captive in cyber-scam facilities within the Golden Triangle special economic zone (SEZ) in Bokeo province of Laos. Out of the 47 individuals rescued, 29 were handed over to the embassy by the local authorities following their crackdown on illegal operations in the Golden Triangle SEZ, while the remaining 18 sought help from the embassy in Vientiane.
The Indian embassy officials traveled from Vientiane to Bokeo to collaborate with the local authorities in rescuing the 47 Indians, who were reportedly being exploited as “cyber slaves” to run dating apps and chat scams. The embassy facilitated their transportation from Bokeo to Vientiane and arranged for their accommodation and meals upon arrival.
Upon their arrival, the Indian ambassador to Laos, Prashant Aggarwal, met with the group to understand their challenges and provide guidance on their next steps. The embassy confirmed that all necessary procedures for repatriating the rescued individuals to India were completed, with 30 individuals already back in India or en route, while the remaining 17 are awaiting finalized travel arrangements.
The Indian embassy expressed gratitude towards the authorities in Laos for their assistance and cooperation in these rescue operations. The embassy highlighted that a total of 635 Indians have been rescued and safely returned to India so far. They also emphasized the importance of caution for Indian nationals, warning them against falling for fraudulent or exploitative job offers and urging them to thoroughly verify the credentials of recruiting agents and companies before accepting any job opportunities in Laos.
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