Bangkok – The efforts to close the online scam centers in Myanmar seemed to gain impulse on Monday when a senior Chinese security official visited both sides of the Thai-Myanmar border before the expected repatrices of large-scale workers in the illicit industry.
Liu Zhongyi’s visit, Deputy Minister of Public Security of China and commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Office, was part of an intensive effort of the three countries to address the problem of online scam, told the Vice Primer Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai , to journalists.
The Myanmar areas that border Thailand have been serving as paradises for criminal unions that use approximately hundred thousand people from Southeast Asia and elsewhere that help carry out online scams that include false romantic tactics, investment launches false and illegal schemes of gambling.
Such scams have cost the victims worldwide tens of billions of dollars, while people recruited to carry them out often have been deceived to take work under false claims and are trapped in virtual slavery.
Last week, about 260 people from 20 nationsIncluding many from Africa, Cruzados de Myanmar to Thailand after, according to the reports, they were rescued from the scam centers.
In a visit to China at the beginning of February, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtran Shinawatra promised together with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, to take energetic measures against scams networks. Just before your visit, Thailand cuts electricity, Internet and gas supplies To several areas of Myanmar along the border, citing national security and severe damage that Thailand has suffered fraud operations.
The repatrices of myanmar’s foreign workers have been organized by the border guard force in MyawaddyAn ethnic minority militia of Karen who exercises control over the area. However, critics have accused him of participating in criminal activities, at least at the point of providing protection to fraud centers.
The group leader saw Chit Thu, denied at a press conference on Monday that his group was involved in scam activities, but recognized commercial links to some properties organized by the centers, which he initially operated simply as resorts.
The Thai media reported last week that the Thailand Special Research Department was considering looking for arrest orders for Chit Thu and others for alleged people trafficking in persons.
Thai officials have said that up to 7,000-10,000 more people can be repatriated, but Phumtham warned that Thailand would only receive those who are ready to be immediately removed by their countries of origin.
The Bangkok Post newspaper reported that an initial lot of about 600 Chinese nationals from the scam centers is expected to take China on rented flights when Liu concludes his visit.
Liu visited the border areas in the province of Tak in Thailand on Monday and appeared in Myawaddy in Myanmar, apparently in a place where hundreds of people who believe they were reduced from several scam centers are waiting for repatriation.
The video of Liu’s visit showed hundreds of people sitting there on the ground with their belongings in a large open wall room.
” China is actively carrying out bilateral and multilateral cooperation With Thailand, Myanmar and other countries, taking comprehensive measures to address the fundamental symptoms and causes, and working together to prevent criminals from committing crimes in relevant countries, ”said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Guo Jiakun, In Beijing.
“This is part of our joint efforts to eradicate the online game scourge and telecommunications fraud, and to maintain the safety of people’s life and property and the order of exchanges and cooperation between regional countries” .
Dramatic stories of the Chinese attracted to work in Thailand only to be trafficked in a complex of scams in Myanmar widely extended on social networks in China, causing alarm and aboller of Thailand’s reputation as a safe destination for Chinese visitors.
Among the trapped was Chinese actor Wang Xing, who arrived in Thailand with a promise to get a job and was kidnapped to Myanmar. He was quickly rescued after the incident circulated on social networks.
A previous repression began against the scam centers in Myanmar at the end of 2023, after China expressed shame and concern for illegal casinos and scam operations along its border in the state of northern Shan de Myanmar.
The groups of ethnic guerrillas with bonds near Beijing closed many operations, and it is estimated that 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of participation were repatriated.
