India has repatriated nearly 300 of its citizens who were deceived with fake job offers and forced into cybercrime and fraudulent activities in scam compounds across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, the government announced.
Thousands of individuals have been rescued from cyber scam operations along the Thailand-Myanmar border this year as countries intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks. Last month, China and Indonesia also repatriated some of their affected citizens.
India’s foreign ministry stated that its embassies in Myanmar and Thailand collaborated with local authorities to facilitate the return of 283 Indian nationals via an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Mae Sot, Thailand, on Monday.
As part of its crackdown, Thailand recently arrested 100 people linked to these scam operations. Criminal syndicates have trafficked hundreds of thousands of individuals to these centres, generating billions of dollars annually through illegal online schemes, according to the United Nations.
The Indian government has also issued a warning to its citizens, urging them to verify foreign job offers and thoroughly check the background of recruiting agents and companies before accepting employment opportunities abroad.
