An airlift operation began on Thursday to repatriate over 1,000 Chinese nationals who had been working at online scam centers in eastern Myanmar. These individuals were first transported across the border to Thailand before boarding chartered flights back to China.
In recent weeks, Thailand, China, and Myanmar have collaborated to dismantle scam centers that have defrauded victims worldwide out of billions of dollars through deceptive romantic schemes, fraudulent investment opportunities, and illegal gambling operations. Hundreds of thousands of people from Southeast Asia and beyond—many recruited under false pretenses—have ended up trapped in these exploitative environments.
Thai officials estimate that up to 10,000 people could be repatriated from Myanmar, and to date, 16 flights have been organized, averaging about four flights a day, to safely return the Chinese nationals under police supervision. The rescued workers were processed in batches of 50 at Mae Sot’s airport after crossing a bridge from Myanmar’s Myawaddy.
Among them, approximately 200 individuals “suspected of involvement in fraud” have already been flown to Nanjing, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.
In addition to the Chinese nationals, Thai authorities are managing the evacuation of scam center workers from other nations. Last week, around 260 individuals from 20 different countries, including many from Africa, were moved into Thai custody after being rescued from similar scams. Repatriation efforts for these individuals are set to start on Sunday, per Thai PBS.
During a visit to Beijing earlier this month, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured Chinese leader Xi Jinping of Thailand’s commitment to cracking down on scam networks. This came shortly after Thailand cut off essential services—electricity, internet, and gas—to several areas in Myanmar that were harboring these operations, citing national security concerns.
The Thai government is particularly keen to maintain cooperation with China, as reports of trafficked scam workers circulating on Chinese social media could jeopardize the lucrative market of inbound Chinese tourists.
The Border Guard Force in Myawaddy, a Karen ethnic minority militia, has been organizing the repatriation efforts for foreign workers. However, there have been accusations against the group for allegedly providing protection to scam centers, which it denies.
A previous crackdown on scam operations in Myanmar occurred in late 2023 after Chinese officials expressed embarrassment and concern over illegal activities in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, leading to the shutdown of many operations and the repatriation of an estimated 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement.
Credit: APC News
