Malaysian man among 61 victims rescued from human trafficking and online scams in Myanmar

A Malaysian man was among 61 individuals rescued from suspected human trafficking and online scam operations in Myanmar before being transferred to Thailand on Thursday (Feb 6).

Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Malaysia to Thailand, Bong Yik Jui (pic), confirmed that the 32-year-old Malaysian citizen from Perak arrived in Mae Sot, Tak Province, on the same day.

“The Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok has verified the identity of the Malaysian national with Thai authorities.

“The embassy will coordinate with the relevant parties on deportation once the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) process is completed,” he told Bernama when contacted on Friday (Feb 7).

The rescued individuals are currently undergoing screening under the NRM to determine their status as trafficking victims and assess any possible involvement in criminal activities before their repatriation.

According to Xinhua, the 61 rescued foreign nationals include 39 Chinese, 13 Indians, five Indonesians, and one each from Ethiopia, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. They were handed over by the Myanmar Border Guard Force to Thai authorities at the Mae Sot border checkpoint in Thailand’s Tak province.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met with the victims at the Tak Immigration Office in Mae Sot on Thursday.

In an effort to curb online scam operations, Thailand has taken measures to cut electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to five Myanmar border towns near its northern frontier, starting Wednesday. The decision was made in response to national security concerns and the severe impact these criminal networks have had on the country.