Myanmar's ruling junta has deported over 55,000 foreigners involved in border scams to their home countries since October 2023. Over 53,000 of these deported individuals were sent to China, while Vietnam and Thailand saw over 1,000 and 600 of their nationals returned, respectively. These individuals, labeled as "fugitive offenders," had illegally entered Myanmar from neighboring countries to participate in illicit activities.
Scam compounds have proliferated in Myanmar's border regions, predominantly staffed by foreigners who are often trafficked and coerced into work. These compounds engage in online scams and gambling, an industry valued at billions of dollars. The northern border with China was previously notorious for such operations, frequently run by militias aligned with the ruling junta.
The Myanmar junta has pledged cooperation with Thai military officials to "jointly eradicate online gambling and online scams." However, local media report that some scam bosses have relocated further south along the border with Thailand to evade crackdown efforts. This movement exacerbates an already precarious regional crisis, described by Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, as one of the most urgent in the area.
The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper has publicly detailed the extent of these criminal activities for the first time, highlighting the significant challenges facing the region. The junta's actions come amid ongoing turmoil in Myanmar following the military's ousting of democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.
In response to the worsening situation, the junta has called on neighboring countries to intervene and assist in their efforts to combat these illegal enterprises. The appeal underscores the transnational nature of these crimes and the need for a unified approach to address them effectively.
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