Over 100 Vietnamese citizens were detained and deported by Cambodia for illegally working for a gambling den in Sihanoukville recently, while another 18 individuals were arrested by Thailand for operating an online betting ring in Bangkok.

Online gambling is illegal in Cambodia. Source: phnompenhpost.com

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang shared the information during a weekly press briefing held today [March 14].

Regarding the incident where Vietnamese citizens were detained by Cambodia for illegal gambling, the spokeswoman referred to information from the Consulate General of Vietnam in Sihanoukville, stating that on March 9, over 100 Vietnamese citizens working illegally at a fraudulent establishment conducting online gambling were detained and deported by Cambodian authorities.

"Under the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 11, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Sihanoukville coordinated with Cambodian and domestic authorities to carry out consular procedures to receive these individuals through the Prek Chak - Ha Tien international border gate," informed Hang.

Regarding the case of 18 Vietnamese citizens detained by Thailand, upon receiving the information, Hang stated that the Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand had contacted relevant local authorities to gather information and verify the identities of these individuals.

According to information from the Embassy, 18 citizens were arrested for involvement in organizing games, fraud, advertising or directly inviting others to gamble and engaging in unauthorized online gambling activities through electronic means.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand continues to closely monitor the situation and requests local authorities to ensure the legal rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

"Over the past period, we have witnessed and been informed about many similar incidents," said Hang.

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again advises Vietnamese citizens to be vigilant against offers to work abroad with promises of "easy work, high pay," without requiring qualifications, degrees, signed contracts, or through legitimate enterprises or labor-sending organizations.

Citizens should thoroughly research the job content, employer, work location, and the introducer's relatives, insurance policies, and entitlements before deciding to work abroad, advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson.

In addition, the embassy has deployed staff 24/7 to maintain regular contact with Vietnamese community representatives in Haiti, continuously updating the situation and closely coordinating with local authorities and the Embassy of Vietnam to implement citizen protection plans.

"As of the latest information, Vietnamese citizens in Haiti are still safe. There are currently 70-80 Vietnamese individuals living there," Hang stated.