Myanmar begins repatriation of Chinese scam centre workers

Hundreds of Chinese workers forced into online scams are set to return home through Thailand.

Thai army personnel direct alleged scam centre workers and victims from China as they arrive from Myanmar at the border checkpoint in Mae Sot, Tak province, on February 20, 2025. Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Myanmar has begun the process of repatriating Chinese nationals who were trapped in scam centres operated by criminal syndicates, with the first group of workers crossing into Thailand on Thursday. These repatriations mark the start of a broader operation to return thousands of foreign workers who were lured into online fraud schemes and held against their will.

The initial batch of 600 Chinese nationals is set to be returned over the next three days, with two double-decker coaches delivering the first group of 50 workers to the Thai border town of Mae Sot on Thursday morning. According to a local border task force official, three more groups of 50 Chinese nationals each were scheduled to cross into Thailand later in the day.

"First group of 50 Chinese have crossed to Thailand and headed to the airport. There will be three more batches (today), each with 50 Chinese," the official told AFP.

China has arranged for 16 flights over the next three days to transport its nationals directly from Mae Sot back home. Security personnel from China are expected to accompany the returnees, though it remains unclear what legal consequences they may face upon arrival.

China pressures Myanmar to dismantle scam centres

The crackdown comes after increased pressure from Beijing, which has urged Myanmar and Thailand to take action against scam centres. These operations have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, generating billions of dollars in illicit profits. Countries such as Cambodia and the Philippines have also struggled to curb similar criminal enterprises.

The scam compounds are typically staffed by foreign workers, many of whom report being trafficked or deceived with promises of high-paying jobs. Once inside, their passports are confiscated, and they are forced to carry out internet scams targeting victims worldwide. Workers who attempt to resist or escape often face beatings and other forms of abuse.

AFP has interviewed numerous former scam centre workers who displayed severe bruising and burns, testifying to the brutal conditions within these compounds.

In response to the growing crisis, China’s Public Security Assistant Minister Liu Zhongyi has made multiple visits to Bangkok and the Myanmar border in recent weeks to coordinate the repatriation effort. The operation represents one of the largest crackdowns on Southeast Asia’s scam industry to date.

10,000 more workers may be deported soon

The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), a militia allied with Myanmar’s ruling military junta, has announced plans to deport up to 10,000 individuals linked to scam operations in areas it controls along the Thai border. If carried out, this would mark a significant step in dismantling the vast network of criminal enterprises operating in Myanmar’s border regions.

China's government has taken an aggressive stance against these scam networks, as many of the victims and perpetrators are Chinese nationals. The surge in online fraud cases has become a major diplomatic issue, with Beijing pushing for stricter enforcement measures in neighboring countries.

For the thousands of workers still trapped in these compounds, the ongoing repatriation offers a glimmer of hope. However, the fate of those being returned to China remains uncertain, as authorities there may prosecute individuals found to have participated in illegal activities.

With the operation gaining momentum, Myanmar, Thailand, and China are likely to intensify their cooperation to dismantle remaining scam centres and prevent future trafficking of foreign workers into these criminal enterprises.

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