More than 250 foreign workers from 20 countries have been rescued from telecom fraud centres in Myanmar’s Karen State and brought to Thailand. The workers, primarily from African and Asian nations, had been lured into forced labor at scam operations along the Thai-Myanmar border. They were freed by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), an ethnic armed group, and were handed over to Thai authorities for assessment and potential identification as victims of human trafficking.
These workers were typically promised good-paying jobs but found themselves trapped in online criminal activities, including love scams, crypto fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling. While some willingly participated, many were coerced and held against their will, with families sometimes forced to pay large ransoms for their release. Reports of torture and abuse from former captives further highlight the horrors of these operations.
Thailand has ramped up efforts to combat these scam centres, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping last week to discuss shutting down the operations. The Thai government has taken steps such as cutting off power and fuel supplies to these centres and tightening banking and visa policies to prevent further exploitation of workers and money laundering. Despite these efforts, some opposition MPs have criticized the government for not acting sooner.
The DKBA, which controls parts of Karen State, has been accused of allowing the scam centres to operate under its protection. The Myanmar government has struggled to maintain control over much of the region since the country’s independence in 1948. In response to international pressure, both the DKBA and other armed groups, including the Karen National Army, have pledged to expel the scam operations from their territories.
Among the rescued workers were nationals from Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and several other countries. The Thai Department of Special Investigation, akin to the U.S. FBI, has also requested arrest warrants for members of the Karen National Army, a group believed to be involved in the establishment of Shwe Kokko, a city with ties to scams. Although the Chinese company behind the city denies any ongoing scam operations, local reports and interviews suggest the illegal activities persist.
As Thailand and Myanmar step up efforts to address the scam centres, the release of these 250+ workers marks a significant development in the ongoing battle against human trafficking and online fraud along the border.
