NONG KHAI: Twenty-three Thai nationals were deported from Laos on Friday following a crackdown on online gambling networks by Lao authorities, police said on Saturday.
The group was handed over to Thai immigration officials in Vientiane before being taken to the Nong Khai immigration office for interviews and screening under the national referral mechanism to protect, assist and screen individuals who may reasonably be believed to be victims of human trafficking or forced labour.
Officials said none of them had arrest warrants or criminal records in Thailand. They had travelled to Laos to work for online gambling websites before being arrested during the Lao authorities' crackdown.
Several websites were named during questioning, including UFA978, UFA147, Mindset168, Mahaheng777, UFA168, Win88 and Top1365, according to officials.
