Human Trafficking Victims Rescued from Myanmar Scam Centers and Repatriated to Thailand

A group of approximately 260 human trafficking victims, primarily from Ethiopia, were transferred to Thailand after being discovered by a rebel group along the Myanmar border. This large-scale repatriation followed Thailand's decision to cut off power to border areas with Myanmar in an effort to combat online fraud operations targeting foreign nationals.

The victims were handed over to the Thai Army by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBD), an insurgent Myanmar group. The DKBD stated that the victims had been working at a scam center in Kyauk Khet, a village in Kayin state along the Thai-Myanmar border. The Thai army confirmed that the group included individuals from 20 different countries, with 138 being Ethiopian.

The rescued individuals were seen crossing the Moei River into Thailand, where they were transported by Thai military vehicles. This incident follows a series of crackdowns on criminal scam centers in Thailand, particularly after the rescue of Chinese victims from human-trafficking online fraud operations last month.

Online fraud operations have become increasingly prevalent in Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries, with survivors reporting prison-like conditions. These operations, often run by Chinese criminal syndicates, lure individuals with promises of high-paying jobs, only to hold them captive and force them to scam victims online.

The recent cases have raised concerns among Chinese nationals about traveling to Thailand, as Chinese tourists constituted the largest group of visitors to the country last year. In response to these concerns, Thailand has cut off electricity and fuel supplies to the scam compounds, which are now reportedly running on generators. Security has also been tightened in the area, with increased military checkpoints and warnings about illegal online work.