Nearly 300 Indian nationals repatriated through Thailand after being freed from illegal scam centres in Myanmar
A group of nearly 300 Indian nationals returned home on Monday (10 March) after being rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar, Thai officials confirmed. This operation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal online fraud rings that have thrived in Myanmar’s border regions.
Pressured by its key ally China, Myanmar has intensified efforts to dismantle these illicit operations, leading to the release of approximately 7,000 workers from various countries. While many have been repatriated, hundreds remain in temporary camps along the Myanmar-Thailand border, awaiting clearance.
Repatriation Efforts
Indian officials entered Myanmar to escort seven buses carrying the freed individuals—266 men and 17 women—across the border to Thailand’s Mae Sot airport. An additional three buses transported their belongings.
To facilitate their return, the Indian government deployed a C-17 transport aircraft to fly them back home. A second group of 257 is scheduled to depart Myanmar on Tuesday.
China, which has been actively involved in the crackdown, has already repatriated over 2,000 of its citizens through Thailand since the joint efforts began last month.
The Rise of Scam Compounds
Over the past few years, scam centres have proliferated in Myanmar’s border regions, generating billions of dollars annually. These operations employ thousands of foreign workers, who are tasked with scamming victims via social media, often using fake investment schemes or romance fraud tactics.
Many of these workers claim they were deceived into taking the jobs, only to find themselves subjected to threats, physical abuse, and inhumane working conditions.
While several nations have been working to rescue their citizens, China has adopted a strict stance—treating repatriated workers as criminal suspects and placing them in handcuffs upon arrival.
