Lao Police Hand Over Online Scam and Gambling Suspects to Thai Authorities

Vientiane: The handover ceremony took place at the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge International Checkpoint in Vientiane, opposite Nong Khai. Among those attending the ceremony were Pol. Col. Thongvieng Xayyachan, Deputy Director of the Economic Police Department of Laos, and Pol. Col. Kittisakorn Kinkesorn, Deputy Commander of Thailand's Immigration Bureau 4, along with senior officials from both countries. According to Lao News Agency, the suspects were first detained on May 11 during a raid in Vientiane Capital, where police discovered 251 individuals, including 142 women, allegedly operating online gambling chat services. Authorities seized 155 laptop computers, 23 desktop monitors, nine computer memory devices and 419 mobile phones. A second operation conducted on May 12 at a guesthouse in Vientiane Capital led to the arrest of an additional 56 suspects, including 28 women. Police also confiscated 256 desktop monitors and 56 mobile phones allegedly used in the illegal online gambling activities. Lao authorities said the suspects' actions violated Article 141 of the Lao Penal Code, which prohibits illegal gambling activities. The suspects were subsequently transferred to Thai authorities for further legal proceedings in Thailand.