MAE SOT — China has begun repatriating another 1,000 suspected Chinese scammers following a major crackdown on fraud operations in eastern Myanmar, with charter flights operating over four days under cooperation among China, Thailand and Myanmar, officials said on Tuesday.
Thai and Chinese authorities oversaw the transfer of the first group of 100 Chinese nationals on December 16 from a detention facility at the Tak immigration checkpoint in western Thailand. They were taken by bus to Mae Sot International Airport and flown to China after completing legal procedures under Thai law, where they are expected to face prosecution.
This marks the third batch of Chinese nationals repatriated to China for investigation and prosecution following the Myanmar crackdown. The previous operation, carried out from December 1–4, involved 1,208 people.
Thai authorities said all individuals handed over by Myanmar in those operations were processed under Thai law before being repatriated through diplomatic channels.
In February, more than 12,500 foreign nationals linked to scam operations were detained in the region, with nearly 10,000 deported through Thailand. During that operation, China used 16 charter flights to repatriate 1,041 Chinese nationals.
Thailand has stepped up cooperation with China since reports circulated widely on Chinese social media that scam workers — including Chinese actor Wang Xing — were trafficked through Thailand. The reports discouraged Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand, threatening a key source of tourism revenue.
The operation follows raids on large scam compounds in Myanmar’s Myawaddy area, including KK Park and Shwe Kokko, along the Thai-Myanmar border in October-November.
Chinese Assistant Public Security Minister Liu Zhongyi earlier joined Thai and Myanmar officials, including Thailand’s Anti-Cyber Scam Center deputy director, Police Lt. Gen. Jiraphob Phuridet, and Myanmar Deputy Police Commander Min Htike Myo, to inspect sites where buildings linked to scam networks were dismantled. Myanmar authorities arrested large numbers of suspected scammers and transferred them through Thailand to Chinese custody.
Myanmar media, however, have reported that Chinese criminal groups are moving to establish a new scam hub more than 20 kilometers from the Thai border, with armed groups in Myanmar believed to be providing protection. Authorities from the three countries have acknowledged the need for continued joint enforcement.
Later the same day, Liu and his delegation met Thai Justice Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruthapol Naowarat in Bangkok to bolster cooperation against transnational crime, including online scams, call center gangs and human trafficking. Officials from several Thai agencies, including the Department of Special Investigation and cybercrime units, also attended the meeting.
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