On the surface, the Hongmen International Hotel in Laos’ Golden Triangle is just a local bar. Behind the scenes, it operates as a front for human trafficking and a large-scale online scam den.
Hidden behind the main bar counter lies a secret room that houses a full-fledged fraud studio. The owner openly boasts about being untouchable, claiming he runs his operation under the protection of a deputy chief at the Tonpheung District Police Bureau.
At least 100 people are trapped inside the compound, many brought in against their will. They are forced into grueling shifts running targeted online scams aimed at pulling in big money from victims back in China, including domestic financial traps, military-themed cons, and deep-chat "pig-butchering" schemes.
Guards patrol the property around the clock, armed with electric batons. Any worker who refuses to cooperate or falls short of sales targets is dragged into a dark punishment room and beaten.
According to insider accounts, the boss pays the police deputy chief a monthly kickback of 3,500 yuan per worker to keep the operation running smoothly. Victims and observers are urging both Lao and Chinese authorities to step in immediately, arrest the owner, and rescue the people trapped inside.
