Last week, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia successfully repatriated 60 Indian nationals who had fallen victim to fraudulent job offers
In another successful operation in the region, the Indian Embassy in Laos has announced the successful rescue and repatriation of 19 Indian nationals who fell victim to fraudulent job offers.
 
Thirteen Indian nationals, including seven Odia workers, were rescued from a wood factory in Attapeu province; six Indian youths were freed from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bokeo province.
 
The Indian Embassy in Laos shared the news on social media on Sunday (May 26, 2024), emphasising its ongoing efforts to protect Indian citizens. The post highlighted that the total number of Indians rescued from Laos had gone up to 428 with the latest operation. The Embassy expressed its gratitude to the Lao authorities for their cooperation in these operations.
 
"In our continued work to ensure the safety and well-being of Indians as a top priority, the Embassy has successfully rescued and repatriated 13 Indians, including seven Odiya workers from a wood factory in Attapeu province and six Indian youths from the Golden Triangle SEZ, Bokeo province of Laos," the Embassy stated on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
 
The rescue operation follows the Embassy's recent advisory cautioning Indian nationals about the dangers of falling prey to fake job offers and illegal employment schemes in Laos. On May 7, 2024, the Embassy issued a detailed warning highlighting the risks associated with such fraudulent job offers. The advisory noted that Indian nationals were being lured into Laos through Thailand with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be forced into illegal activities under harsh conditions.
 
"Instances have come to our notice recently wherein Indian nationals are being lured for employment through Thailand," the advisory stated. "These fake jobs are for posts such as 'Digital Sales and Marketing Executives' or 'Customer Support Service' by dubious companies involved in call-center scams and cryptocurrency fraud in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos."
 
The Modus Operandi

 The advisory detailed how agents in cities like Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and even within India, are recruiting unsuspecting Indians through simple interviews and tests. Once recruited, these individuals are illegally transported across the Thai-Laos border and held captive to work in the Golden Triangle SEZ. The conditions are often severe, with victims subjected to strenuous labour under constant physical and mental duress.
 
"Victims are illegally taken across the border into Laos from Thailand and held captive to work in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos under harsh and restrictive conditions," the advisory explained. "At times, they are taken hostage by criminal syndicates indulging in illegal activities and forced to work in strenuous conditions under constant physical and mental torture."
 
The Embassy's proactive stance has been instrumental in rescuing many Indian nationals from such dire circumstances. However, it also underscores a broader issue of human trafficking and exploitation in Southeast Asia.
 
Last week, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia successfully repatriated the first batch of 60 Indian nationals who had fallen victim to fraudulent job offers. The embassy, in collaboration with Cambodian authorities, rescued these individuals from a location called Jinbei-4 on May 20, 2024. Their return on May 23, 2024 marks a crucial step in addressing the growing issue of job scams targeting Indians abroad.
 
The Ministry of External Affairs of India issued an advisory last month, cautioning Indian nationals about the risks of human trafficking and fraudulent job offers in Cambodia.
 
The Ministry urged Indian job seekers to thoroughly vet their prospective employers before accepting any overseas job offers. The operations in Cambodia and Laos are a critical part of this broader campaign to protect Indian nationals from exploitation and to ensure their safe return home.
 
The recent rescues and the advisories serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by fraudulent job offers and human trafficking networks. Indian nationals seeking employment abroad are urged to exercise extreme caution and to verify the legitimacy of job offers through official channels.