Bokeo Police Dismantle Call Center Gang Amid Nationwide Fraud Crackdown

This Week

Bokeo provincial authorities dismantled a multinational call center scam gang operating in Ton Pheung district on 12 May, as part of Laos’ intensifying crackdown on cybercrime and online fraud networks.

Authorities detained 62 suspects of different nationalities, the majority being from Myanmar. Officials confiscated desktop computers, laptops, and a large number of mobile phones used in the operations. 

Investigations and interrogations are ongoing to expand the case, identify further accomplices, and ensure all those involved are prosecuted according to the law.

The 12 May operation followed a series of earlier raids across the province. On 4 to 5 May, authorities arrested 71 suspects in Houayxay district, mostly Chinese and Myanmar nationals. On 11 May, a larger operation in Ton Pheung district detained 159 individuals, including 106 Lao nationals, along with nationals from China, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. 

In total, approximately 230 suspects from six nationalities were arrested across Bokeo between 4 and 12 May. Authorities have not yet released full details regarding charges or the scope of the alleged fraud operations as investigations continue.

On 7 May, authorities transferred 605 suspects linked to alleged computer fraud operations in Savannakhet Province to Vientiane for further investigation. The group included nationals from eight countries: China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Across Laos, the total number of individuals detained in connection with online fraud and cybercrime networks in the first half of May exceeded 1,500, when combined with a 1 to 2 April operation in Ton Pheung district that detained 742 suspects representing 12 nationalities.

The operations follow a late April directive by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to strengthen nationwide action against online scams. On 30 April, Minister of Public Security Vanthong Kongmany visited the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo to reinforce enforcement efforts in the area.

The Lao operations are part of wider regional enforcement activity. 

On 10 May, Cambodian immigration authorities detained 994 foreign nationals from 16 countries in an anti-scam operation. Separately, Indonesian authorities arrested around 321 foreign nationals, including 11 Lao nationals, in Jakarta on 9 May in connection with a major illegal online gambling network.

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