Laos Sends 34 Thai Nationals Back After Online Gambling Crackdown
Laos Sends 34 Thai Nationals Back After Online Gambling Crackdown
NONG KHAI, September 3, 2026 — Lao authorities have deported 34 Thai nationals, including 12 women and 22 men, back to Thailand following a crackdown on online gambling websites and suspected scam networks in Vientiane.
According to a report by Amarin News, the group was handed over through the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai province after being arrested by Lao authorities for allegedly working without proper permits and secretly operating gambling websites.
Upon their arrival in Thailand, immigration officials, working with an inter-agency team from relevant ministries, conducted detailed interviews and screening to determine whether any of the returnees could be victims of human trafficking.
Lao authorities reportedly found that the Thai nationals had crossed into Laos to work as website management or administrative staff for six casinos and online gambling websites. They were reportedly divided into two shifts and received monthly salaries ranging from 15,000 to 21,000 baht (approximately US$452–634).
The Thai authorities are continuing to screen and assess the individuals as part of efforts to distinguish between people involved in illegal online operations and those who may have been recruited or trafficked into such work.
