Scam compounds in Myanmar raided: Over 7,000 victims freed

Thailand has launched a large-scale crackdown on scam compounds in Myanmar, leading to the rescue of around 7,000 people trapped in illegal call centre operations. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that the victims are awaiting transfer to Thailand as authorities prepare to receive up to 10,000 foreigners freed from the notorious scam compounds.

Myanmar, along with Cambodia and Laos, has become a hotspot for transnational crime syndicates running online scams such as romance fraud, fake investment schemes, and illegal gambling. Victims, often lured by false promises of high-paying jobs, are forced to work in these compounds under abusive conditions. Myawaddy, a border town in Myanmar, is believed to host one of the largest clusters of scam compounds in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that at least 120,000 people in Myanmar and another 100,000 in Cambodia are trapped in forced labour, running scams that target individuals across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 2023 alone, scams aimed at East and Southeast Asians caused financial losses between $18 billion and $37 billion.

Thailand’s intensified efforts to combat these operations followed the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in January. The 22-year-old was abducted in Thailand after arriving for what he believed was a film casting call and was later forced into one of Myanmar’s scam compounds. This incident sparked international outrage, pushing Thai authorities to take stronger action, including cutting off internet, electricity, and fuel supplies to five crime-ridden areas in Myanmar.

The rescue mission has also led to significant repatriation efforts. Around 200 Chinese nationals are scheduled to return home on a China Southern Airlines flight, while 260 individuals from 20 different countries—including 138 Ethiopians—were deported from Myanmar last week.

 

Reports from survivors reveal the brutal conditions inside the scam compounds.

 

Rescued Malaysians shared that they were electrocuted, caned, and locked in dark rooms when they failed to meet scam targets. Many victims were found with broken bones and severe bruising.

Jeremy Douglas from the UNODC highlighted the growing pressure on Myanmar’s Border Guard Force to shut down these operations. He said that it had reached a point where they felt they had no choice but to step in and dismantle the compounds.

While this crackdown marks a major victory against transnational crime, experts warn that criminal networks remain adaptable, and continued international cooperation is essential to dismantle these illicit operations fully.