Re: Strange numbers
Thinking about this, I do not see this as very devious.
When busting such a "labor camp", the local authorities have to consider everyone complicit in crimes. Only those that are physically freed from imprisonment can definitely be said to be freed. Sorting that out is a nuisance, especially given the connections to local politics and law enforcement.
When I look at the reports, the foreign "suspects" are simply extradited to their home countries where they will be dealt with by their local authorities. This way, eg, China, gets its people back, guilty or not, and the country of the camp can ignore the case as they see fit.
From what I know about these parts of Asia, there seems to be limited concern for the fate and well being of (poor) foreigners.