Nearly 300 Indian nationals stranded in Myanmar’s scam centres have been brought back home via Thailand, a report stated Monday. These individuals were among thousands who had been trapped in illegal online fraud operations, largely controlled by Chinese syndicates. A crackdown on these centres has led to the release of around 7,000 workers from more than 24 countries.
According to a Times of India report, Indian officials coordinated the evacuation, escorting 266 men and 17 women in seven buses to Thailand's Mae Sot airport. Three additional buses carried their belongings. The Indian government deployed a C-17 transport aircraft for their repatriation, with another 257 Indians scheduled to return the following day.
While India facilitated the return of its nationals, many of those freed—mostly Chinese—remain stranded in harsh conditions near the Myanmar- Thailand border.
China, which has already repatriated over 2,000 of its citizens, continues efforts to dismantle these scam operations. These fraud hubs, part of a multi-billion-dollar industry, lure foreign workers under pretenses and subject them to forced labor in online scams, including romance and investment fraud.
As per the TOI report, China has treated its repatriated nationals as criminal suspects, placing them in handcuffs upon arrival.