A sweeping crackdown on scam centers along the Myanmar-Thailand border has resulted in more than 7,000 people being detained in the town of Mae Sot, awaiting repatriation. The operation, coordinated among Thailand, Myanmar, and China, comes after Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pledged action against these criminal networks during her visit to Beijing earlier this month.
Authorities say these scam syndicates have ensnared thousands, luring them under false pretenses to work in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Once inside, they are coerced into perpetrating online scams, including fraudulent investments, romance scams, and illegal gambling schemes. Many victims describe conditions akin to modern-day slavery, facing threats and violence if they refuse to cooperate.
Thai officials, along with their Myanmar and Chinese counterparts, are set to meet next week to discuss repatriation logistics. Thanathip Sawangsang, spokesperson for Thailand’s Defense Ministry, emphasized the need for structured guidelines to prevent confusion. Meanwhile, Thailand has taken aggressive measures, including cutting off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to scam centers along the border, citing national security concerns.
Amy Miller, director of Acts of Mercy International, spoke to the AP, calling the current situation unprecedented, noting the overwhelming challenge for Thai authorities in processing and housing such a large number of people. “It does require the embassies and the home governments of these citizens to take responsibility,” she said, underscoring the need for international cooperation.
The scale of the issue is staggering. Thai anti-trafficking authorities warn that these illegal scam compounds across Myanmar could still trap tens of thousands of people. Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, head of Thailand’s Anti-Human Trafficking Center, estimated that 30 to 40 Chinese criminal gangs are running these operations, possibly holding as many as 100,000 workers. Many are foreign nationals, and over 30 nationalities were identified among those rescued.
Repatriation efforts have begun, with China already arranging multiple flights to return its citizens. Last week, Thai authorities received a group of 260 workers from countries including Ethiopia, Brazil, and the Philippines, with further screenings underway to determine whether individuals were victims or complicit in the scams.
The crackdown has placed a considerable strain on Thailand, which must coordinate temporary accommodations and transportation. Some embassies have yet to commit funding for their nationals’ return, complicating the effort. Meanwhile, Thai officials continue to monitor the border, where some scam centers, though weakened by power cuts, remain operational.
The crisis has also drawn renewed attention to human trafficking in Southeast Asia, particularly after the case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was abducted and forced to work in one such scam center. His dramatic rescue and return to China have fueled further scrutiny of these illicit operations, highlighting the urgent need for sustained action against the traffickers profiting from these human rights abuses.
