47 people were trapped in cyber scam centers of this country, this is how the Indian Embassy saved them

The Indian Embassy in the Southeast Asian country Laos said on Saturday that at least 47 Indians trapped in cyber scam centers have been rescued from the country’s Bokeo province. Indian officials are warning their citizens about fake job offers in Laos and urging them to exercise utmost caution to avoid fraud. The Indian mission has so far rescued 635 Indians from the country and ensured their safe return to India.

In the latest case, the embassy rescued 47 Indians trapped in cyber scam centres in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bokeo province, a statement from the Indian Embassy in Laos said. “Of these, 29 were handed over to the embassy by Lao authorities following a crackdown on illegal activities in the Golden Triangle SEZ, while the other 18 had approached the embassy in distress for help,” the statement posted on X said.

It said embassy officials went from the capital Vientiane to Bokeo to contact local authorities for their rescue. The statement said India’s ambassador to Laos Prashant Agarwal met the group upon their arrival and discussed the challenges they were facing and advised them on the next course of action.

The embassy has fulfilled all the procedural requirements of the Laos authorities for their repatriation to India, the statement said, adding that 30 of them have already returned safely to India or are on their way, while the remaining 17 are only awaiting firming up of travel arrangements and will leave the country soon. Agarwal stressed that “ensuring the safety and well-being” of Indians is a matter of utmost priority for the embassy.

Let us tell you that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the issue of smuggling of Indian citizens with Laos Prime Minister Sonex Siphandone during his visit to the Southeast Asian country last month. Last month, the Indian Embassy in Laos rescued 13 Indians who were lured into some cyber-scamming centers in the country and sent them back home. In Saturday’s statement, the Indian Embassy urged the Laos government to take action against unscrupulous elements.