29-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) A rescue operation has successfully saved more than 120 individuals believed to be victims of job scams in northern Myanmar, caught in the crossfire between the military and armed ethnic groups, according to Malaysia’s government.
The number of Malaysians initially reported as stranded at 26 has surged to 127 in recent days, revealed Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir. He assured the public that the rescued individuals are in a secure location, with plans to repatriate them home by Thursday. The group was reportedly stranded in Laukkaing, a town notorious for online scams, gambling, and other organized crimes.
Ongoing fighting in northern Myanmar, triggered by an offensive from an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups, has led to the disruption of trade routes, particularly at several border crossings to China.
Zambry disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also enlisted to evacuate an Indonesian and a Hong Kong citizen from the area, with both individuals set to be flown out alongside the Malaysians. The minister expressed gratitude to Chinese and Myanmar authorities for their assistance in the operation, without providing further details.
An unnamed government official, citing the sensitivity of the case, stated that the 127 Malaysians were enticed to the area through fraudulent job offers. The details of the rescue operation and evacuation are currently withheld due to the involvement of various parties.
This incident follows a recent rescue operation earlier this month where 266 Thai victims of human trafficking, along with Filipinos and a Singaporean, were saved from Laukkaing and transported to Kunming city in China before boarding chartered flights to Bangkok. Another group of 41 Thais was also reportedly repatriated across the land border.
The unrest in Myanmar’s border region remains a concern for China, despite its support for the country’s military rulers who assumed power in a 2021 takeover. China has called for a cease-fire in Myanmar while continuing live-firing drills on its side of the frontier to prepare for emergencies. The region, already plagued by drug trafficking and people smuggling, is a focal point for China’s efforts to combat cybercrime targeting its citizens. China is actively working to eliminate criminal groups based in Myanmar and other countries, advocating for their prosecution in China.
