Naypyidaw: Over 250 foreign workers were freed from telecom scam centres in Myanmar’s Karen State.
They came from 20 different countries and were transported to Thailand.
More than half of them were from African or Asian nations.
The Thai army received them and is assessing possible human trafficking cases.
Officials are determining if they were victims of forced labour or deception.
Thai Government
Last week, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
She vowed to shut down scam centres along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Her administration has restricted access to power and fuel in border areas.
New banking and visa policies were introduced to disrupt scam operations.
Authorities aim to prevent Thailand from becoming a transit point for scams.
Opposition Push
Some Thai opposition lawmakers have demanded stronger action for two years.
Scam operations have lured many foreign workers with false promises.
Victims are misled into believing they will work in Thailand.
Many realize too late that they have been trafficked to Myanmar.
Once inside, they are trapped in fraudulent online schemes.
Cyber Crimes
Scammers target workers fluent in English or Chinese.
They force them into cyber fraud, romance scams, and crypto schemes.
Money laundering and illegal gambling are also common activities.
Some victims accept the work, but many are trapped against their will.
Release is often possible only if families pay large ransoms.
Reports of Torture
Former victims report being physically abused by captors.
Escapees describe torture and other violent punishments.
Scammers use intimidation to prevent workers from fleeing.
Authorities say forced labour is a growing regional concern.
Human rights groups call for stronger international intervention.
Armed Group Involvement
The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) released the foreign workers.
This group controls parts of Karen State in Myanmar.
Several armed factions allow scam operations to thrive in their territories.
They are accused of protecting these fraudulent businesses.
Victims face severe abuse under their watch.
Government Struggles
Myanmar’s government has struggled to control Karen State for decades.
The region has remained outside central authority since independence in 1948.
Scam operations have flourished in lawless border areas.
Criminal networks use the instability to operate freely.
Efforts to curb these scams remain challenging.
Arrest Warrants
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation issued arrest warrants on Tuesday.
The agency operates similarly to the US FBI.
Three commanders of the Karen National Army are wanted.
Among them is warlord Saw Chit Thu.
He partnered with a Chinese company in 2017 to build Shwe Kokko.
Scam City
Shwe Kokko is suspected of being funded by fraudulent schemes.
This city became a hub for illegal cyber operations.
Its creation involved deals between armed groups and foreign investors.
Authorities now seek to dismantle these scam networks.
More arrests are expected as investigations continue.
