India has managed to repatriate 549 of its nationals who were rescued from cyber crime dens along the Myanmar-Thailand border. The repatriation, which was done in two flights by military planes, was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
The victims, who originated from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, were misled with false assurances of employment in the IT sector. They were taken to Chinese criminal syndicate-operated cyber crime centres in Myanmar’s lawless border areas, which are outside the control of the country’s military junta.
Crackdown on Cyber Crime Centres Leads to Rescue
The majority of the trafficked Indians were released along with nationals of other South and Southeast Asian nations in the latest crackdown on scam activities along the Myanmar-Thailand border. The authorities moved them from Myanmar’s Myawaddy district to Mae Sot in Thailand, where they were kept temporarily in detention centers. The Indian Air Force (IAF) then transported them back home in a C-17 heavy lift aircraft on Monday and Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted the update on social media, saying, “Government of India facilitated safe repatriation of 266 Indians [on Tuesday] on an IAF aircraft, who were released from cyber crime centres in South East Asia. 283 Indians were repatriated similarly on Monday.”
Indian Embassies Work for Safe Return
The Indian missions in Thailand and Myanmar collaborated with the local authorities to get the trafficked people released and brought back home. On Monday, the MEA again asserted that the government has been making constant efforts to rescue Indians cheated by false job promises in Southeast Asia.
“These individuals were then compelled to indulge in cyber crime and commit other forms of fraud in scam centers that operate in areas along the Myanmar-Thailand border,” the MEA said.
Warning Against Job Scams in Southeast Asia
The Indian government continues to advise citizens against becoming victims of such employment scams. The MEA asked Indian nationals to check foreign employers’ credentials through Indian missions and background check recruiting agents and companies before considering job offers in the region.
Similar Rescues in Southeast Asia
India has been busy dismantling human trafficking networks of its citizens. In January, the Indian embassy in Laos freed 67 Indian men from cyber scam centres within a special economic zone. With this, Indians rescued from such scams in Laos alone totaled 924.
In the last three years, hundreds of Indian citizens have been drawn into such scams in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
The “Pig Butchering” Scam – A Global Menace
Chinese criminal syndicates, therefore, have been blamed for what is commonly referred to as the “pig butchering” scam. The internet scam happens when scammers gain the trust of victims first before they persuade them to invest in fraudulent platforms, resulting in money losses. The name of the scam is an indication of fattening a pig before slaughtering it—representing how cons deceive victims prior to stealing their cash.
The Indian government continues its crackdown on such scams and urges citizens to stay vigilant when seeking jobs abroad.
