A crackdown on online scam centers in Myanmar has led to over 7,000 people from around the world being held in a border town awaiting repatriation, straining resources in neighboring Thailand. The crackdown was coordinated among Thailand, Myanmar, and China following Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Beijing. Scam networks lure people to work in centers in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, where they exploit victims through false romances, bogus investments, and illegal gambling schemes. Many are trapped in virtual slavery.
Officials from the three countries are expected to meet to address the logistics of repatriation as fears of a humanitarian crisis grow. Thailand has cut off basic supplies to areas in Myanmar hosting scam centers citing national security concerns. Aid groups in Thailand, such as Acts of Mercy International, are overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of potential trafficking victims being released. The Thai government is working to coordinate repatriations, but logistical issues such as verifying identities have slowed down the process.
Over half of the 7,000 waiting are Chinese, with the rest from various countries. Thailand has allowed China to handle most processing on their return home, chartering 16 flights to repatriate over 600 Chinese nationals. Earlier in the month, about 260 people from 20 countries were repatriated, with over 100 still awaiting return. Many of these individuals were trafficked through Mae Sot, now a center of mass repatriation efforts. Checkpoints along the road to Mae Sot warn of the risk of trafficking to work along the Myanmar border, with soldiers checking vehicles and asking for identification.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
