To crack down on cross-border telecom scams and other crimes, Chinese police have been working closely with their Laotian counterparts.
According to CCTV News, Laotian police recently handed over 494 suspects in telecom scams to Chinese authorities at the Mohan border crossing in Yunnan Province. This is another major achievement in the joint efforts of the two countries to combat cross-border telecom scams.
This year, as Cambodia has stepped up its crackdown on telecom scams, some of these operations have shifted to Laos. Earlier this month, Laotian police in the Bokeo Province launched a week-long crackdown, detaining hundreds of suspects and seizing a large number of computers and phones used in the scams.
Under the Sino-Laotian law enforcement cooperation agreement, China’s Ministry of Public Security has organized the reception of these suspects and is handling the case in accordance with the law.
A senior official with the Ministry of Public Security said that Chinese police will continue to deepen cooperation with relevant countries to combat cross-border crimes, including telecom scams, and will work to dismantle these operations and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In 2024, the Thai government implemented a series of measures, including visa policies and infrastructure development, to attract foreign tourists. However, after the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Xing in early 2023, a joint operation was launched against the Myanmar-based telecom scam gang, which then shifted its operations to Thailand and Cambodia.
As a result, telecom scams and other crimes have been rampant in the border areas of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. According to the United Nations, most of the victims come from Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and China.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there are over 50,000 people involved in telecom scams in the region. These gangs lure victims with promises of high-paying IT jobs or overseas work, and have established a complete black industry chain from recruitment to implementation.
The Chinese embassy and foreign affairs department have warned Chinese citizens not to fall for “high-paying job” or “travel companion” scams, and to be cautious of “familiar traps.” They also advise citizens to inform their families of their travel plans and work locations before leaving the country, and not to participate in telecom scams.
On May 15, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Department of Treaty and Law and the Laotian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Treaty and Law held a meeting on Sino-Laotian law enforcement cooperation and international law in Luang Prabang, Laos. The meeting was attended by officials from both countries, including the Chinese ambassador to Laos and the Laotian vice minister of foreign affairs.
The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in combating cross-border crimes, including telecom scams, and discussed hot topics in international law.
