Myanmar repatriates Chinese scam workers through Thailand
Myanmar has begun repatriating hundreds of Chinese nationals forced to work in scam centres, with the first group crossing into Thailand today, February 20. This marks the start of a massive operation expected to free thousands from criminal-run compounds in Myanmar over the coming weeks.
The first group of 50 Chinese workers was transported to the Thai border town of Mae Sot, with three more batches of 50 scheduled today.
China has arranged 16 flights over the next three days to fly 600 of its citizens directly from Mae Sot back to China, accompanied by Chinese security personnel.
These compounds, operated by criminal gangs, employ foreigners who claim they were trafficked and forced to conduct Internet scams. Many workers, mainly Chinese nationals, report being lured with false promises of high-paying jobs, only to have their passports seized and be subjected to harsh working conditions, including physical abuse.
The repatriation operation follows pressure from Beijing on Myanmar and Thailand to shut down these scam centres, which have proliferated across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and the Philippines. The Karen Border Guard Force, a militia allied with Myanmar’s junta, announced plans to deport 10,000 people linked to these compounds along the Thai border.
The mass return of Chinese nationals follows several visits by China’s Public Security Assistant Minister Liu Zhongyi to Bangkok and the Myanmar-Thai border to coordinate the repatriation. However, the fate of these workers upon their return to China remains unclear, reported The Phuket News.
The scam industry has grown into a billion-dollar enterprise, exploiting thousands of trafficked workers. As this large-scale repatriation begins, global attention turns to the ongoing crackdown on these criminal networks.
In similar news, innocent Burmese residents rushed to petrol stations, driving up prices, after Thailand cut power, petrol, and Internet to five key areas in Myanmar suspected of hosting call centre scam gangs.
The measures began on February 5 to combat the scams. Despite the power cuts, buildings linked to the scam operations in Tachileik remained lit, while electricity usage in Shwe Kokko dropped by 40%, with casinos switching to generators.
Thai netizens reported continued scam calls, with some even questioning scammers about the power outage’s impact on their activities.
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