67 Indian youths who had been tricked and trafficked into cyber-scam centers operating in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in the Bokeo Province of the Southeast Asian nation were successfully rescued, the Indian Embassy in Laos announced Monday.

Criminal syndicates operating in the GTSEZ coerced these young people into working there by intimidating and abusing them.

"Immediately upon receiving their requests for help, Embassy officials responded to all of them promptly and extended all necessary assistance. A team of Embassy officials travelled to GTSEZ at once and worked closely with concerned Lao authorities to achieve required procedures and paperwork to enable them to leave GTSEZ and travel to the Embassy in Vientiane. Their transport from Bokeo to Vientiane was also facilitated. Arrangements for their accommodation and food have been made by the Embassy, as needed," stated the Embassy of India in Laos.

Prashant Agrawal, Ambassador of India to Laos, met with the rescued Indians, discussing the challenges faced by them while assuring full safety and Embassy's full support "as a matter of highest priority" for their safe return to India.