Around 260 individuals, believed to have been trafficked and forced to work in online scam centers, are set to be repatriated following their rescue from Myanmar, as announced by Thailand’s army on Thursday.
This effort is part of a broader crackdown on scam operations in Southeast Asia, where criminal syndicates have exploited vulnerable people, drawing them into various schemes including fake romantic scams, fraudulent investment opportunities, and illegal gambling operations.
According to U.N. experts, these scams have siphoned off billions of dollars from unsuspecting victims worldwide, with many recruited under false pretenses and trapped in conditions resembling virtual slavery.
An earlier campaign against scam centers in Myanmar began in late 2023, prompted by Chinese concerns over illegal activities in Myanmar’s northern Shan state. The crackdown led to the shutdown of many operations, resulting in the repatriation of around 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement.
The latest rescue operation yielded victims from 20 different nationalities, including substantial numbers from Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, and China. They were moved across the border from Myanmar’s Myawaddy district to Thailand’s Tak province on Wednesday. Reports indicate that the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, a militia controlling the area, was responsible for liberating the workers and escorting them to the border.
The Thai army stated that those rescued will undergo questioning to confirm their status as trafficking victims. If confirmed, they will receive protection while arrangements for their return to their home countries are made.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai noted that more scam victims may still need to be repatriated from Myanmar, but Thailand will only accept those ready to return immediately to their countries. He emphasized that the country would not establish new shelters for them, as Thailand already hosts several refugee camps for over 100,000 individuals, primarily from Myanmar’s ethnic Karen minority.
Phumtham reiterated the need to investigate the rescued individuals to ensure they are indeed trafficking victims and to gather intelligence for law enforcement.
During a visit to China in early February, Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed to combating the scam networks affecting Southeast Asia.
Several alarming accounts have surfaced, detailing how Chinese nationals were lured to work in Bangkok only to find themselves trafficked into scam operations in Myanmar. A notable case involved Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was rescued after his plight gained attention on social media.
To address national security concerns linked to these operations, the Thai government has recently ordered the discontinuation of electricity, internet, and gas supplies to certain border areas within Myanmar. Officials are also exploring similar measures for northeastern Thailand, which borders Cambodia, having already removed illegally installed internet cables in those regions.
Credit: The Hill
