BANGKOK — An operation to airlift over 1,000 Chinese workers who were part of online scam centers in eastern Myanmar commenced on Thursday. The rescued individuals were transported across the border to Thailand, where they boarded charter flights heading back to China.
In a collaborative effort, Thailand, China, and Myanmar have been working for the past month to dismantle these scam centers, which have been known to defraud victims around the globe out of significant sums through deceptive romantic schemes, fake investment offers, and illegal gambling operations. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals from Southeast Asia and other regions have been employed at such centers, particularly in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, often for jobs that turned out to be a façade; many found themselves trapped in conditions akin to modern slavery.
Recent statements from Thai officials suggest as many as 10,000 individuals may be repatriated from Myanmar’s online scam operations. Up to this point, there have been 16 flights scheduled, about four per day, to return the Chinese nationals, who are being escorted by police. Given the substantial number of repatriates, which has reached 1,041, Thailand is allowing China to manage the majority of returning workers’ processing and investigative procedures.
Reportedly, the rescued individuals are being transported in groups of 50 over a bridge from Myawaddy in Myanmar to Mae Sot in Thailand, where they undergo processing that includes biometric scanning before being bused to Mae Sot’s airport. There, they are boarding flights with China Southern Airlines. About 200 individuals suspected of engaging in fraudulent activities were flown to an airport in Nanjing, as stated by China’s official Xinhua news agency.
Thai authorities are also facilitating the evacuation and processing of workers from other countries affected by these online scam centers. Last week, around 260 individuals from approximately 20 different nations, including many from Africa, arrived in Thailand after escaping from similar operations in Myanmar.
Initiatives for the organized repatriation of scam workers from nations other than China are set to begin on Sunday, according to reports from Thai PBS. During a recent visit to Beijing, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured Chinese President Xi Jinping of Thailand’s commitment to combatting these scam networks. In preparation for her visit, Thailand had already cut off electricity, internet, and gas supplies to various locations in Myanmar where these scam centers were known to operate, citing national security alongside the adverse impacts on Thailand.
The Thai government is eager to collaborate with China, especially in light of concerns that reports of scam workers being trafficked through Thailand could negatively impact the country’s appeal among Chinese tourists, a significant economic sector. The local Border Guard Force in Myawaddy, a militia associated with the Karen ethnic minority, has been instrumental in the repatriation efforts. However, this group has faced criticism for allegedly providing protection to illegal scam operations, which it denies.
A previous crackdown on scam centers took place in late 2023, prompted by China’s expressions of discontent regarding illegal casinos and scam activities in northern Myanmar’s Shan state. Ethnic guerrilla organizations with strong ties to Beijing assisted in shutting down several operations, resulting in the repatriation of an estimated 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in fraudulent activities.
