21-year-old Ghanaian man forced into pig butchering scam operation in Laotian cybercrime compound

Summary

Two African men, including a 21-year-old named Khobby from Ghana, were lured to a cyber-scam operation in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in northwest Laos with promises of well-paying jobs. Upon arrival, Khobby’s passport was confiscated, and he was forced to work in a compound under threat of physical harm. The scam operation, known as "pig butchering," involves building trust with victims through online interactions before deceiving them out of money. Khobby described working up to 17 hours a day alongside other African workers in a tower block, with no ability to leave the premises. The GTSEZ, controlled by Chinese national Zhao Wei, is a lawless area known for cybercrime, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The victims were trapped in the scam center for months, enduring harsh working conditions and exploitation.