Crackdown on Telecom Fraud and Illegal Gambling in Myanmar
Senior officials from Myanmar, China, and Thailand have joined forces to tackle telecom fraud and illegal online gambling operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar. This collaboration comes after the Myanmar authorities discovered a significant number of foreigners illegally entering the country from neighboring nations.
Between January 30 and February 16, 2024, over 1,000 illegal entrants were identified and detained. A joint task force composed of senior officials from the three countries is currently verifying identities and conducting investigations to expedite the repatriation process.
Myanmar has already repatriated some of those detained, while efforts are underway to process the remaining individuals in accordance with legal procedures to ensure their swift return to their home countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi met with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, and Minister of Home Affairs, Tun Tun Naung, to discuss enhancing China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of jointly tackling cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and human trafficking.
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, highlighted the serious threat posed by online gambling and telecom fraud to the lives and property of people in affected countries, including China and Thailand. He emphasized China's commitment to working with Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries to address both the symptoms and root causes of these crimes.
Efforts are being made to prevent criminals from operating across borders, eradicate the scourge of online gambling and telecom fraud, and protect public safety while ensuring stable regional cooperation. The foreign ministry will continue working with relevant authorities to guide Chinese embassies and consulates abroad in properly handling related requests for assistance and ensuring the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals overseas.
6 Comments
Habibi
“Targeting foreigners disproportionately may only fuel xenophobia and discrimination.”
Donatello
“This campaign helps deter criminals from exploiting loopholes across borders—commendable effort!”
Raphael
“Actions like these remind us that regional cooperation can triumph over criminal networks affecting multiple countries.”
Leonardo
“The way these operations are being carried out suggests they’re more about enforcing power than ensuring fairness.”
Michelangelo
“It’s encouraging to see Myanmar, China, and Thailand uniting to tackle telecom fraud and illegal gambling.”
Eugene Alta
“I’m concerned that behind the crackdown, there are no guarantees that innocent individuals won’t be caught in the net.”