4-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand has successfully assisted in the repatriation of around 900 Chinese nationals who were trapped in scam centers in the border town of Myawaddy in Myanmar, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The operation, which took place from February 29 to March 2, involved transporting the Chinese nationals from Myawaddy to an airport in the Thai border district of Mae Sot, where they were then transferred to Chinese planes.
Prime Minister Srettha emphasized that this was a joint voluntary operation between China, Myanmar, and Thailand, based on humanitarian principles. The transfer process was not forced, and Thailand provided the necessary assistance for the Chinese nationals to board the flights at Mae Sot.
Thai deputy police chief Surachae Hakparn revealed that the operation involved 15 flights over three days to repatriate the Chinese scam victims to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Myanmar’s military spokesperson did not provide immediate comments when contacted by Reuters.
This is not the first time such a repatriation effort has taken place. In November 2023, Myanmar authorities handed over more than 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China as part of a joint crackdown on online scams in Myanmar.
Additionally, China and Myanmar have previously collaborated to facilitate the return of over 200 Thai individuals, including victims and those involved in telecom fraud gangs, who were trapped in the conflict between the Myanmar military and armed ethnic minority groups in Laukkaing, located in Myanmar’s northern Shan State.
