Thousands of foreign nationals, freed from scam-operating centers in Myanmar, are now stranded on the Thai-Myanmar border in the aftermath of a multinational crackdown, according to sources cited by Reuters. This action comes as part of a larger effort by Myanmar, Thailand, and China to dismantle the criminal networks running online scams in Southeast Asia, where trafficking victims have been forced into illegal operations.
Since the crackdown, approximately 7,000 individuals, primarily from China, have been caught in a precarious situation at the border. They were initially liberated from the scam centers run by criminal gangs, yet they remain in limbo, with no clear path to repatriation. Many of these individuals are currently being held by two Myanmar armed groups— the Karen National Army (KNA) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
Aid workers have raised concerns about the dire living conditions, noting the lack of sanitation and healthcare facilities, which are worsening the situation. One worker stated, “It is like these victims are being revictimized again.” Thai authorities have acknowledged the issue, but Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai emphasized that Thailand lacks the capacity to accept additional people without the involvement of foreign embassies to facilitate repatriations.
While hundreds have already crossed into Thailand, the Thai government has focused on managing the arrivals by working with foreign embassies. For instance, in one recent operation, Thailand allowed China to repatriate 621 of its nationals via flights from the border. Additionally, 260 scam center workers, including many from Ethiopia, were accepted this month, despite the absence of an Ethiopian embassy in Thailand.
The crackdown on these scam centers comes in the wake of high-profile cases like that of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was kidnapped and taken to a Myanmar scam center after being lured to Thailand with a job offer. The intensifying scrutiny of these centers is prompting Southeast Asian nations to ramp up their efforts, with Thailand cutting off utilities and internet access to areas connected with scam operations.
The issue of scam centers has been particularly damaging, with Thailand alone estimating financial losses of 80 billion Thai baht ($2.4 billion) due to telecom scams since March 2022. As multinational efforts continue, the fate of those stranded remains uncertain, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international action to address both the victims’ immediate needs and the underlying criminal networks behind the scams.
