Myanmar sends 50,000 scam workers back to China
Myanmar’s military government says it has deported over 50,000 people to China for involvement in online scam operations.
The deportations began in October 2023 and included foreigners who were trafficked and forced to work in scam centres, mainly along Myanmar’s borders.
The scams target people online and include fake gambling schemes.
Myanmar’s state newspaper reported on Tuesday that more than 55,000 foreign nationals have been sent back to their home countries.
Over 53,000 of them were sent to China, with smaller groups deported to Vietnam, Thailand, and 25 other nations.
Myanmar's junta said those involved were not Myanmar citizens but “criminals” who entered the country illegally. It urged neighbouring countries to help fight online scams and gambling operations.
Scam centres, often linked to armed groups in Myanmar, used to operate near the country’s border with China. However, a military offensive by ethnic rebel groups forced many to shut down, AFP reports.
Some of the scam operators have reportedly moved their operations closer to the border with Thailand.
The governments of Myanmar and Thailand have agreed to work together to tackle online scams, according to state media.
