MAESOT — Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi crossed the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge today to prepare for the repatriation of Chinese nationals rescued from scam operations in Myanmar.
Liu, accompanied by a delegation of 26 officials, traveled on February 16 from Myanmar to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport before flying to Mae Sot International Airport in Tak province. The delegation then inspected the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, where Acting Superintendent of Tak Immigration Police Colonel Phloen Klinphayom explained the procedures for processing foreign nationals from Myawaddy, Myanmar, through Thailand’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
The repatriation effort follows the Myanmar Border Guard Force’s (BGF) recent crackdown on scam operations in Shwe Kokko, where approximately 2,000 people were detained, half of whom are Chinese nationals. The group includes both victims of human trafficking and individuals connected to fraudulent call center operations.
Liu closely examined all processing steps and indicated that China plans to use the same repatriation method employed in 2024, bringing Chinese aircraft to Mae Sot Airport. Colonel Phloen detailed the facility’s capacity, noting it can handle 200-300 people daily, with a maximum of 500, pending bilateral agreements on the exact procedures.
The Chinese delegation later crossed into Myanmar, where local officials explained their verification requirements. Liu personally inspected the facilities before returning to the Thai side of the border.
The operation marks China’s latest effort to address the growing issue of transnational scam operations in the Myanmar border region.
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