Foreigners abducted and trafficked for online scams handed over to Thailand

A total of 61 foreigners including 39 Chinese nationals who were abducted and trafficked into online scam and gambling in the Myawady’s Shwekokko and KK Park in the areas of the Thai-Myanmar border, have been identified and handed over to Thai authorities, according to a statement released by the Information Team of the State Administration Council.
 
The handover took place at 1:30 p.m. on February 6 at the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 2 in Myawady, according to the procedures. The foreigners handed over included 39 Chinese nationals, one Kazakh national, five Indonesian nationals, one Ethiopian national, one Pakistani national, one Malaysian national and 13 Indian nationals, 61 in total.
 
Upon investigation and interrogation, it was revealed that the trafficked foreigners were lured and recruited online with the incentives of large salaries to be involved in computer and translation related businesses.
 
Then, through Bangkok and the Myanmar-Thailand border town of Mae Sot, the representatives of illegal online scamming organizations illegally brought them crossing the Thai-Myanmar border, and they were forced to participate in online fraud and gambling in Shwekokko and KK Park areas in Myawady Township, the statement said.
 
The State is working together with neighboring countries and international organizations to investigate and take action against those involved in online fraud and gambling and also providing necessary assistance as well. Therefore, local organizations, governments of neighboring countries and citizens of the country are also urged to contact the relevant authorities as soon as possible if they have information about online scams, the statement said.