India, June 7 -- As cybercrime syndicates spread across Southeast Asia and increasingly target Indian citizens, Laos has vowed a tougher crackdown on transnational scam centres that have evolved into one of the world's most lucrative criminal enterprises.

In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer during his official visit to India, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavan Phomvihane said dismantling cyber-scam operations and human trafficking networks has become one of his government's highest priorities, amid growing international concern over the rapid expansion of organised crime groups across the region.

"Scam centres are a challenge for Laos and other countries. It is a priority to tackle them. Our government i...