Myawaddy Scam Victims Repatriated Via Thailand

TAK, Feb 21 (TNA) - Thai authorities continued the repatriation of Chinese nationals, suspected victims and perpetrators of call center scams, from Myawaddy, Myanmar, for a second consecutive day. 

The operation, expected to last three days, aims to return over 600 people to China.

They are being transported across the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 2 in Mae Sot, where they undergo biometric screening, including fingerprinting and facial recognition, to prevent their re-entry into Thailand.

The repatriated individuals are then flown to China via China Southern Airlines, where Chinese police are reportedly waiting to take them into custody for further investigation related to fraud charges.

This repatriation effort is a collaborative effort between Thailand, China, and Myanmar to combat transnational crime in Myawaddy. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that this will be the final repatriation before a trilateral meeting between the three countries' ministers. 

The meeting aims to establish a clear framework for addressing transnational crime in Myawaddy and repatriating thousands of foreign nationals from over 20 countries who have been displaced by recent crackdowns.

 Each country must formally request the return of their citizens before they can be processed through Thailand.

The ongoing crackdown on Chinese "gray businesses" and transnational crime in Myawaddy has resulted in over 2,000 displaced foreign nationals, currently under the care of the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Karen Democratic Buddhist Army (DKBA). Authorities are working to establish clear guidelines for their repatriation. -819 (TNA)