Crackdown on Scam Compounds at Thai-Myanmar Border: A Multinational Effort

China is set to fly home about 200 nationals found in scam-running compounds at the Thai-Myanmar border. This move is part of an international crackdown on illegal online operations in Southeast Asia, where thousands have been trafficked. Efforts intensified after actor Wang Xing's rescue.

China is gearing up to repatriate approximately 200 of its citizens who were discovered in scam-compound operations on the Thai-Myanmar border, as announced by a Thai security official on Tuesday. This initiative is part of broader multinational efforts to dismantle illegal online schemes proliferating across Southeast Asia.

These compounds have ensnared hundreds of thousands in forced labor, with Myawaddy, a border town, being a notable hotspot. Recently, the rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing shone a spotlight on these operations, intensifying global scrutiny and collaboration among China, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Authorities in Myanmar detained 273 foreign nationals connected to these scam activities, reinforcing the crackdown. This political and humanitarian crisis is amplified by Myanmar's ongoing civil unrest, further exacerbating efforts to dismantle the network of coercive labor operations.

(With inputs from agencies.)