BANGKOK – Around 260 individuals, believed to have been trafficked and forced to work in online scam operations, are set to be repatriated after being rescued from Myanmar, Thailand’s military announced on Thursday.
In an ongoing crackdown against scam syndicates operating in Southeast Asia, the Thai army revealed it is working to facilitate the return of these individuals, who were reportedly victims of human trafficking.
They were rescued from Myanmar and transferred to Thailand.
Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos—countries bordering Thailand—have become hotspots for criminal syndicates accused of forcing hundreds of thousands of people into running online scams.
These fraudulent operations include romance scams, fake investment schemes, and illegal gambling, which have defrauded victims worldwide of billions of dollars, according to U.N. experts.
Many of the workers in these centers were deceived into taking jobs under false pretenses and then trapped in exploitative conditions.
CRACKDOWN ON SCAM NETWORKS
A previous crackdown on scam operations in Myanmar began in late 2023 after China expressed concern over illegal casinos and scam centers operating in the country’s northern Shan state.
Ethnic armed groups with strong ties to Beijing dismantled many of these scam hubs, leading to the repatriation of approximately 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement.
In the latest operation, those rescued in Myanmar came from 20 different countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, and China.
Other nationalities include Indonesia, Nepal, Taiwan, Uganda, Laos, Brazil, Burundi, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana, and India.
They were transported across the border from Myanmar’s Myawaddy district into Thailand’s Tak province on Wednesday.
Thai media reports suggest that the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, an ethnic militia controlling the area, was responsible for rescuing the workers and escorting them to the border.
Myanmar’s military government has minimal authority in these frontier regions, where ethnic minority groups dominate.
Several ethnic militias in these areas are suspected of engaging in criminal activities, including drug trafficking and protecting scam operations.
REPATRIATION PROCESS AND FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS
According to the Thai army, the rescued individuals will undergo questioning to determine if they are victims of human trafficking.
Those identified as victims will receive protection while awaiting repatriation to their home countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that many more individuals may still need to be repatriated from Myanmar through Thailand.
However, he emphasized that Thailand would only receive those whose home countries are prepared to take them back immediately.
“I have made it clear that Thailand will not establish another shelter,” Phumtham said during a visit to Sa Kaeo province, which borders Cambodia. He noted that Thailand already hosts nine refugee camps along its borders, housing over 100,000 people, mostly from Myanmar’s Karen ethnic minority.
Phumtham added that questioning the rescued individuals was necessary not only to verify their status as trafficking victims but also to gather intelligence that could aid in further investigations into trafficking networks and scam operations.
CHINA AND THAILAND STRENGTHEN CRACKDOWN EFFORTS
During a visit to China in early February, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to intensify efforts against scam syndicates operating in Southeast Asia.
Many reports have emerged of Chinese nationals being lured to Bangkok with job offers, only to be trafficked into scam compounds in Myanmar.
One high-profile case involved Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was quickly rescued after his story gained widespread attention on social media.
Highlighting Beijing’s concerns, Liu Zhongyi, China’s Vice Minister of Public Security and Commissioner of its Criminal Investigation Bureau, visited Thailand last month to inspect border areas near Myanmar’s scam hubs.
In a move to curb scam operations, just before Paetongtarn visited China, Thailand ordered the suspension of electricity, internet, and gas services in several Myanmar border areas linked to scam networks.
The Thai government is now considering extending these restrictions to its northeastern borders with Cambodia, according to Defense Ministry spokesperson Thanathip Sawangsang.
Officials have already removed illegally installed internet cables in affected areas.