LAOS (TR) – Authorities here have detained more than 50 foreigners, including five Japanese nationals, during a raid on a hotel suspected of operating as a base for an organized cyber fraud ring, reports TV Asahi (July 27).
According to local media, the raid took place on the 22nd at a hotel in northeastern Xiangkhouang Province. The detained group consists of four Japanese men and one Japanese woman, alongside individuals from Taiwan and Indonesia.
During the bust, investigators confiscated a massive haul of electronic devices, seizing 60 computers and 76 mobile phones from the premises.
Several of the detained individuals have already confessed to participating in the online fraud network. The syndicate reportedly targeted victims in Taiwan by setting up fake e-commerce sites offering heavily discounted clothing and furniture. Victims were tricked into wiring money for the goods, which were never shipped.
While the hotel is owned by a Laotian national, the property had been leased to a 50-year-old Chinese man who authorities believe orchestrated the fraudulent operation. The alleged ringleader managed to flee the scene in a vehicle as police descended on the property. Local authorities have since issued a warrant for his arrest and are pursuing his whereabouts.
The Japanese Embassy in Laos has acknowledged the detentions, stating that it is currently “confirming the facts” regarding the involvement of its citizens.
