Thailand Repatriates Thousands from Myanmar Scam Compounds

Thai authorities, in coordination with Myanmar and China, are facilitating the return of foreign nationals trafficked into online scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border.

• Thailand has begun repatriating nearly 1,500 Chinese nationals this week, with 19 flights planned to return rescued workers to China.
• The scam compounds in Myanmar's Myawaddy region trafficked thousands of foreign nationals, forcing them into online fraud operations targeting global victims.
• Approximately 7,000 individuals from over two dozen countries have been freed from these illegal operations, with many still awaiting repatriation under challenging conditions.
• Some workers reported being coerced, subjected to abuse, and held in squalid camps with limited access to food, healthcare, and sanitation during the repatriation process.
• Thai authorities are collaborating with foreign embassies and governments to coordinate repatriations, including disease screenings and immigration checks, while addressing logistical challenges for nations without local diplomatic missions.

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South China Morning Post