Rescue Mission: Nearly 500 Indians Fleeing Myanmar Scam Centers Set for Safe Return from Thailand

New Delhi: Close to 500 Indian nationals have entered Thailand after a crackdown on scam centers in Myanmar. The Indian government is coordinating with Thailand to bring them home once legal processes are completed.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that the group is located in Mae Sot, a western town in Thailand. He announced that the Indian government plans to send a plane directly to retrieve them. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is collaborating with Thai authorities to manage the situation.

“We are aware of Indian nationals detained by Thai officials,” stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He explained that these individuals crossed into Thailand from Myanmar in recent days. The Indian embassy is working hard to confirm their nationalities and facilitate their repatriation.

Reports indicate that this group is among over 1,500 individuals from various countries who have escaped Myanmar due to increased efforts against scam operations. These centers are involved in transnational cyber scams, exploiting victims for fraudulent activities.

A United Nations report highlighted the alarming trend of trafficking involving numerous nationalities, forced into these scam operations. These illegal centers have also been reported in countries like Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Malaysia. They’re often connected to broader criminal networks, which exploit vulnerable individuals globally.

Among those who fled to Thailand are victims and, in some cases, operators of the scams. In March, India successfully repatriated 549 nationals who were rescued from similar scam centers along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

The situation sheds light on the ongoing issues of human trafficking and the cybersecurity threat posed by these criminal enterprises. Awareness and cooperation between countries are key to addressing these challenges effectively. For more on human trafficking, check out this report by the UN for a deeper understanding of the global implications: UN Report on Human Trafficking.

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MEA, SCAM CENTRES IN MYANMAR, THAI AUTHORITIES DETAINED INDIANS, RANDHIR JAISWAL, INDIAN CROSSED INTO THAILAND, NEARLY 500 INDIANS CROSS OVER TO THAILAND FROM MYANMAR AFTER RAID ON SCAM CENTRES