Thailand’s army has coordinated the rescue and repatriation of 260 people believed to be victims of human trafficking and trapped in online scam centers after they were rescued from Myanmar. This is part of a larger crackdown on scam centers in Southeast Asia, where criminal syndicates have forced hundreds of thousands of people into running online scams. In a previous crackdown in 2023, ethnic guerrilla groups shut down many scam operations in Myanmar’s Shan state, leading to the repatriation of thousands of Chinese nationals.
The rescued individuals come from 20 different nationalities, including Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, and China. They were sent from Myanmar to Thailand and will undergo questioning to determine if they are victims of human trafficking. The Thai government has emphasized that they will only receive individuals who are ready to be repatriated immediately to their country of origin.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has vowed to crack down on scam networks in Southeast Asia, particularly those involving Chinese nationals. Beijing has expressed concern over the issue, with China’s vice minister of public security visiting Thailand to inspect areas near the Myanmar scam centers. The Thai government has also cut off utilities in border areas with Myanmar to address national security concerns related to scam operations.
Overall, the recent rescue and repatriation of victims from online scam centers in Myanmar highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and exploitation in Southeast Asia, as well as the collaborative efforts to address this problem.
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