A sweeping crackdown led by authorities from Thailand, China and Myanmar has dismantled scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border and freed thousands from nearly 30 countries, but helping them return home remains a big challenge, says the spokesperson for the Karen Border Guard Force, or BGF.
Over a week ago, BGF, an ally of Myanmar's military junta, played a key role in evacuating more than 6,000 people from scam centers in Myanmar's Shwe Kokko fraud hub, near the border with Thailand.
Although many have been freed, the spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Naing Maung Zaw, told VOA's Burmese Service the repatriation process is complex and will remain slow.
"Originally, we planned to send 1,000 people a day, but now we are only able to send a few hundred at a time," he said in an interview Tuesday. "So far, 673 people have been transferred to Thailand."
Getting those rescued from scam centers to where they can be processed is part of the challenge, he said.
The BGF operates in a region where local militia groups control large swaths of territory. These groups have historically maintained uneasy alliances with the Myanmar military while engaging in illicit economic activities, including human trafficking and scam operations.
According to the United Nations, criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people, forcing them to work in Southeast Asian scam centers such as the ones in Myanmar.
Thousands of the recently freed remain in temporary shelters in Myanmar, awaiting processing by Myanmar's military authorities.
"We have evacuated more than 6,000 people, but overcrowding is an issue," spokesperson Naing Maung Zaw said. "About 500 people are crammed into warehouses, increasing risks of disease and escape attempts."
The repatriation process involves coordinating with multiple countries, as individuals from nearly 30 nations have been found in the scam centers.
“We are prioritizing the return of those who have been rescued,” he said. “After China, the largest number of people are from Indonesia, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Pakistan, India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nepal, Thailand, Rwanda, Kenya, Cambodia, and Ghana — making a total of 15 countries. According to our special forces on the ground, people from other countries are also among those affected, bringing the total to nearly 30 countries.”
The Thai government said it is “working closely with Myanmar and other countries to ensure the safe return of victims. Over 7,000 rescued individuals are currently in the process of being transferred.”
Raids on scam centers continue, but operations will pause at the end of February, Naing Maung Zaw said.
"It's estimated that tens of thousands are still trapped in these scam centers. It will take months to repatriate everyone," he said.
The crackdown is a response to growing international pressure, particularly from China.
On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced the repatriation of 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar’s scam hubs, with more expected to follow. However, according to Xinhua, these individuals are being referred to as “suspects in call center fraud,” suggesting that China views them as potential criminals rather than victims.
The operation is being overseen by Liu Zhongyi, China's assistant minister of public security, who has been coordinating efforts with Thai and Myanmar officials to dismantle the criminal networks.
Liu emphasized that shutting down these operations is critical not only for ensuring the safety of Chinese citizens but also for curbing organized crime across the region.
China's role in cybercrime crackdown
China has taken a leading role in dismantling cyber scam networks operating along the Thailand-Myanmar border, leveraging diplomatic pressure and regional cooperation with both countries. The crackdown intensified, with Thai authorities cutting gas and oil supplies to Myanmar earlier this month and deploying military units to weaken criminal syndicates.
On Feb. 5, the Thai authorities cut electricity, fuel, and internet supplies to several Myanmar border towns known to host scam operations. This action aimed to disrupt the infrastructure supporting these illicit activities. Additionally, Thai military units were deployed to the border area to further weaken the criminal syndicates operating there.
China’s Ministry of Public Security confirmed the repatriation of 200 Chinese nationals from Myanmar, labeling them as suspects in telecom fraud. The ministry stated that over 800 more would be repatriated soon as part of a joint effort with Myanmar and Thailand to combat transnational cybercrime.
Jason Tower, the Myanmar country director for the U.S. Institute of Peace, has been monitoring transnational cybercrime for nearly a decade. He told VOA in an interview Monday that "the campaign is the most aggressive crackdown seen along the Thailand–Myanmar border."
Previous short-term disruptions, such as power and internet cuts, that once lasted only a few weeks, have now been replaced with sustained pressure, he said.
"The Thai military's presence and comprehensive cuts on electricity, internet, gas and oil have created significant challenges for these criminal networks," he said.
China has played a crucial role in coordinating regional efforts, pushing for tougher actions against cybercrime syndicates.
"A surge in social media outcry over high-profile trafficking cases has given Beijing the political capital to demand cross-border cooperation," Tower said.
While repatriation efforts continue, Tower said, dismantling the infrastructure linked to organized crime is equally critical.
"Without sustained pressure and intelligence-sharing, these criminal networks will continue to adapt and thrive," he warned.
Meanwhile, China has taken legal action against key figures over their alleged involvement in transnational cybercrime.
Influential in the Myanmar town of Kokang, the Ming family, accused of colluding with cross-border scammers, was publicly tried in Wenzhou, China, last week, according to AFP. Kokang is an area in northeastern Myanmar along the southern Chinese border that is home to a Mandarin-speaking ethnic group of Chinese under the same name.
The 23 defendants face charges in Wenzhou, including murder, fraud, and extortion. According to the Chinese court, they are linked to 14 Chinese deaths and illicit financial gains, exceeding $1.4 billion since 2015.
Among those tried was the former head of the Kokang Administration, who was arrested in Nay Pyi Taw and handed over to China by Myanmar's junta last year. The six-day trial concluded with a verdict pending, underscoring Beijing's commitment to holding suspected major players accountable.
Challenges amid ongoing crackdown
Despite aggressive measures, scam syndicates continue to operate, shifting their hubs across borders.
Syndicates can easily relocate to Cambodia, Laos or Dubai, Tower said.
Impunity also remains a major issue. While some key figures were brought to justice in 2023-2024, many kingpins still operate freely. Since 2016, scam networks have flourished with little oversight, particularly in Cambodia, where large-scale scam centers remain active.
Another challenge is repatriating trafficking victims and recovering stolen funds. Thai authorities have identified victims quickly, but returning them across multiple countries is complex.
"Without coordinated intelligence sharing, these networks will keep adapting," Tower cautioned.
Thein Htike Oo from Burmese Service contributed this report.
