The arrest of Kamran Haider by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a human trafficking case is just the tip of the iceberg. Haider, along with his associates, is part of a larger syndicate that was involved in the trafficking of human beings to the Golden Triangle Economic Zone, which a Chinese triad leader runs.
The NIA, in a release, said that Haider was involved in arranging fight tickets and documents for the victims and was facilitating illegal border crossings with the help of contacts in the Golden Triangle Region.
The NIA said the accused was working along with Manzoor Alam, Guddu alias Sahil, Akhil alias Pawan Yadav and Afroz.
The NIA has been probing several such cases relating to cyber slavery whereby victims are trapped and then sent to Laos, where they are forced to indulge in cybercrime. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, Laos, remains a major hub for cyber slavery. It remains a haven for criminal activities, which include prostitution, scamming and drug trafficking.
The Chinese trap
The Chinese syndicates are known to be notorious for nefarious activities in Bharat and other parts of the world. They have found various ways to trap Indians and continue to do so. There is a syndicate that runs Chinese apps whereby people are offered easy loans at very high rates of interest. Any failure to repay the loan results in threats, humiliation and blackmail.
The cyber slavery racket, too, is being run by a Chinese triad operating out of the Golden Triangle region in Lao PDR (Laos). Also referred to as the Golden Triangle Economic Zone, this region is notorious for facilitating crimes, and in order to do so, these syndicates have set up shops in Bharat. An NIA official tells Organiser that they are investigating a host of such cases. It is a well-oiled machine that has lasted for several years now.
One of the major issues that has come to light is that these Chinese syndicates are operating with ease in the region. The Laos authorities are powerless to stop the menace in the zone. The zone, often described as a de-facto Chinese colony, is a gambling hub catering to Chinese citizens situated in the Bokeo province along the Mekong River where Laos-Thailand and Myanmar meet.
The authorities find it hard to crack down on these elements due to the special nature of this zone. Authorities have complained that the crime syndicates operate with ease here since the law enforcement agencies have limited access to the zone. Further in order to operate here, the authorities require permission from officials at the Chinese run by the Kings Romans Casino, the zone’s crown jewel, which is owned by the Hong Kong-based Dok Ngiew Kham Group.
What makes the job harder is when a person has a problem, he or she has to call authorities from the zone only, and hence, the Bokeo police cannot help them since they are not in control.
The NIA’s case
Before understanding how the syndicate is run at the Golden Triangle, one must look at the NIA’s case in detail.
The arrest of Kaman Haider was a major breakthrough for the NIA. The agency arrested Haider with the help of the Delhi Police Special Cell. Hair, along with his associates, was involved in the Laos human trafficking and cyber slavery case.
In October 2024, the NIA filed a chargesheet against the accused persons and said that they were involved in a well-organised network of traffickers and touts involved in various illegal activities. They were involved in sending vulnerable Indian youth to the Golden Triangle Region in Lao PDR, where they were forced to commit cyber scams targeting European and American citizens, the NIA said.
They operated through a consultancy firm called Ali International Services. This was, in fact, a front for human trafficking, the probe revealed. In addition to human trafficking for cyber slavery, the accused were also involved in an extortion racket through cryptocurrency wallets from victims who tried to escape the clutches of Chinese scammers.
The issue is being taken very seriously as this is a mighty problem, an official said. The agency is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy in Laos to try and rescue as many Indians as possible.
In August, the Indian Embassy in Laos successfully managed to rescue 14 Indian youths from cyber-scam operations within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
“Embassy rescues 14 more Indian youth from cyber-scam centres in Golden Triangle SEZ. Our officials work tirelessly and closely with Lao authorities to ensure their safe return back to India. 548 Indian youth have been rescued so far,” the Indian Embassy said in a post on X. With this, the total number of Indians rescued stands at 548.
Further, the Embassy also issued an advisory to Indian nationals about job offers in Laos. It said that accepting such offers could lead them to cyber scam activities.
“Indian youth advised NOT to put themselves at risk regarding any job offers in Lao PDR/ Laos which may be luring and forcing them into committing cyber-scams. Do read and follow the enclosed Advisory carefully,” the Embassy also said.
How the Golden Triangle Syndicate Traps Indians
Fraudulent job offers are made to Indians, following the trap laid. They are offered roles such as digital sales and marketing executives or customer support services by dubious companies.
These companies operating in Bharat are engaged in call centre scams and cryptocurrency fraud within the Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos. Recruiters in locations such as Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Bharat conduct simple interviews and typing tests, offering very high salaries, hotel accommodation, return air tickets and visa facilitation.
Once they fall trap, the victims are smuggled across the Thai-Laotian border and are forced to work in the Golden Triangle SEZ under harsh and reactive conditions.
Victims are illegally transported from Thailand to Laos and held captive in the Golden Triangle SEZ under severe conditions. They are often taken hostage by criminal syndicates involved in illegal activities and subjected to strenuous work under constant physical and mental abuse.
There are also instances where Indians are taken to other regions in Laos for low-paying jobs, which include mining and factory work. Here, they are exploited and endangered by their handlers.
Most of the victims are unaware that visas on arrival in Thailand or Laos do not permit employment. Moreover, the authorities in Laos do not issue work permits to Indian nationals travelling on such visas.
The kingpin
Investigations have found that this entire racket which is affecting so many Indians is being run by a Chinese triad in the Golden Triangle Economic Zone. The kingpin runs brothels, online scams, human trafficking, smuggling of animal parts and drugs.
The entire racket is being run from a sealed-off gambling town centre on the King Romans Casino, which is in a remote part of northwestern Laos. The racket is run by Chinese gangster Zhao Wei. Laos treats this area like an autonomous state that is subject to its own rules, which run during Chinese times. The main language and currency here is Chinese.
The Golden Triangle Economic Zone is situated in the heart of the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet at the Mekong River. This area was once a major hub for the opium trade.
This SEZ was supposed to function as a self-contained trade-boosting industrial estate. It was meant to be a boost for the lifeline of Laos’ economy. However, the kingpin Zhao used the King Roman Casino as a front to traffic heroin and methamphetamine, launder money and promote child sexual exploitations. The US Treasury, which took note of this, placed Zhao and his wife, Su Guqin, under the Magnitsky sanctions in 2018.
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