Eighty-four Indonesians were repatriated from Myanmar after a joint crackdown by Thailand, Myanmar, and China on scam centers. The Indonesians were among thousands trapped in exploitative conditions, often recruited under false pretenses for illegal activities. Health checks were conducted, and while many others remain stranded, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry highlighted that around 6,800 Indonesians have been affected by these scams in recent years. The initiative to repatriate victims follows regional efforts to address human trafficking and provides a glimpse into the dark reality of labor exploitation in Southeast Asia.
Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been lured to work in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to commit global scams through false romances, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes.
The crackdown on the scam centers in Myanmar followed a meeting in Beijing in early February between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese leader Xi Jinping where she said Thailand would crack down on the scam networks.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that approximately 6,800 Indonesians have fallen victim to illegal job scams, ending up in online gambling operations or bogus investment schemes.
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