22 Thais returned from Laos call center arrests

Matichon•General•3d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai immigration officials received 22 Thai nationals returned from Laos after they were arrested for telephone fraud in the Boten Special Economic Zone.

•22 Thai nationals (9 men and 12 women) were returned from Laos via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 4 in Chiang Rai on July 17.
•The individuals were arrested by the Luang Namtha Province Peace Maintenance Headquarters for telephone fraud in the Boten Special Economic Zone.
•Most of the returnees claimed they were lured by social media job postings promising monthly salaries of 18,000-25,000 baht with free food and housing.
•Two non-Thai nationals were also found to have entered illegally and are facing legal proceedings.

Overview

•On July 17, Thai immigration officials at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 4 in Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province, received 22 Thai nationals returned from Laos.
•Pol. Maj. Gen. Sarawut Khon Yai, Pol. Col. Ekkakon Busbabodin, and Pol. Col. Pattarapong Inwana led the operation to receive the individuals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
•Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej provided operational policies to the Chiang Saen Immigration checkpoint, emphasizing strict adherence to laws and regulations.
•The Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane coordinated with the Luang Namtha Province Peace Maintenance Headquarters to return 9 men and 12 women arrested for telephone fraud in the Boten Special Economic Zone.
•Preliminary screening by relevant agencies found no indicators that the 22 Thai nationals were victims of human trafficking.
•The Thai nationals claimed they were lured by social media advertisements promising high salaries of 18,000-25,000 baht per month and free welfare.
•Officials arrested two non-Thai nationals who traveled through unauthorized channels for legal prosecution.
•Relevant agencies will conduct further investigations to determine if the group was involved in online gambling or scammer activities.

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Key Entities

Person

Pol. Maj. Gen. Sarawut Khon Yai(พล.ต.ต.สราวุธ คนใหญ่)

Commander of Immigration Bureau 5.

Pol. Col. Ekkakon Busbabodin(พ.ต.อ.เอกกร บุษบาบดินทร์)

Deputy Commander of Immigration Bureau 5.

Pol. Col. Pattarapong Inwana(พ.ต.อ.ภัทรพงศ์ อินวรรณา)

Superintendent of the Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej(พล.ต.ท.จิรภพ ภูริเดช)

Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police.

Place

Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 4 Immigration Checkpoint(ด่านตรวจคนเข้าเมืองสะพานมิตรภาพไทย – ลาว 4)

The entry point in Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province, where the 22 Thai nationals were received.

Lao PDR(สปป.ลาว)ℹ️

The country from which the 22 Thai nationals were returned.

Boten Special Economic Zone(เขตเศรษฐกิจพิเศษบ่อเต็น)

The area in Luang Namtha Province where the Thai nationals were arrested for telephone fraud.

Luang Namtha Province(แขวงหลวงน้ำทา)ℹ️

The province in Laos where the arrests occurred.

Organization

Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint(ด่าน ตม.เชียงแสน)

The immigration unit responsible for screening individuals traveling to neighboring countries.

Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane(สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงเวียงจันทร์)

The diplomatic mission that coordinated the return of the Thai nationals from Laos.

Luang Namtha Province Peace Maintenance Headquarters(กองบัญชาการป้องกันความสงบ แขวงหลวงน้ำทา)

The Laotian authority that arrested and processed the Thai nationals for return.

Policy

National Referral Mechanism(กลไกการส่งต่อระดับชาติ)

The mechanism used to process the returned Thai nationals.