Thailand, Myanmar, and China Struggle to Address Border Scam Centers

Over 7,000 workers rescued from scam compounds face delays in repatriation as authorities confront logistical and humanitarian challenges.

Thailand, Myanmar, and China are coordinating efforts to dismantle scam centers operating along the Thai-Myanmar border, which have trafficked hundreds of thousands of workers in recent years.
Over 7,000 individuals from more than two dozen countries have been rescued from these compounds, with many now held in overcrowded and unsanitary detention facilities in Myanmar, awaiting repatriation.
Thai authorities have cut off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to border areas hosting scam centers, but lawmakers and activists warn that corruption and complicit officials hinder progress.
Myanmar's civil war complicates efforts to shut down scam hubs, as many are located in militia-controlled areas, including Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, notorious for their scale and operations.
Repatriation efforts are slowed by identity verification and resource constraints, with foreign embassies urged to expedite support for their nationals as concerns grow about a potential humanitarian crisis.