Laos Deports 32 Thai Gambling Admins; 341 Others Await Return

MGR Online•Society•22h ago

Reader Briefing

Lao authorities deported 32 Thai nationals working as gambling website administrators to Nong Khai province.

•32 Thai nationals were handed over by Lao authorities to Thai officials at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint 1 in Nong Khai.
•The individuals were arrested during a crackdown on illegal gambling networks and human trafficking/scammers in Laos on July 22, 2026.
•The group had previously worked as gambling admins in Cambodia before moving to Vientiane, Laos.
•An additional 341 Thai nationals arrested in the same operation are currently awaiting the conclusion of legal proceedings before being deported.

•The 32 Thai nationals previously worked as gambling website administrators in Cambodia but moved to Vientiane, Laos, following clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border.
•The group rented accommodation in Vientiane to operate all types of online gambling websites 24 hours a day, working in two 12-hour shifts.
•The gambling administrators received monthly wages ranging from 15,000 to 18,000 baht.
•Lao authorities conducted a heavy crackdown on illegal gambling networks, human trafficking, and scammers on July 22, 2026.
•Lao authorities arrested a total of 373 Thai nationals during the operation.
•Police Colonel Noppadol Rakchat, Superintendent of Nong Khai Immigration, directed officials to receive the 32 deported individuals on August 6.
•Nong Khai Immigration and multidisciplinary teams screened the individuals and found no one qualified as a human trafficking victim or subject to outstanding warrants.
•341 Thai nationals remain in Laos awaiting the end of their legal cases before being sent back to Thailand.

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Lao PDR(สปป.ลาว)ℹ️

The country that arrested and deported Thai gambling website administrators.

Thailand(ไทย)ℹ️

The country to which the arrested administrators were deported.

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️

The country where the deported individuals previously worked as gambling website administrators.

Nong Khai(หนองคาย)ℹ️

The province where the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint is located and where the deportees were received.

Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Border Checkpoint 1(ด่านพรมแดนสะพานมิตรภาพไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 1)

The location where the 32 Thai nationals were handed over from Lao authorities.

Vientiane(เวียงจันทน์)ℹ️

The capital of Laos where the Thai nationals rented housing to operate gambling websites.

Police Colonel Noppadol Rakchat(พ.ต.อ.นพดล รักชาติ)

Superintendent of Nong Khai Immigration who directed the reception of the deported individuals.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Thiyaphat Rangsiprahmnakul(พ.ต.ท.ธียาฌพัทย์ รังษิพราหมณกุล)

Deputy Superintendent of Nong Khai Immigration who coordinated the reception of the deportees.

Police Colonel Jirawit Panyim(พ.ต.อ.จิรวิทย์ ปานยิ้ม)

Superintendent of Mueang Nong Khai Police Station involved in receiving the deportees.

Nong Khai Immigration(ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองหนองคาย)

The agency that screened the deported individuals for human trafficking and warrants.

Mueang Nong Khai Police Station(สภ.เมืองหนองคาย)

The police station involved in the coordination to receive the deported Thai nationals.