Over 800 Chinese nationals were deported from the vicinity of the Myanmar-Thailand border due to involvement in online fraud, as reported by China’s Ministry of Public Security.
The group was expelled on Wednesday from the notorious gambling and scam hub, Shwe Kokko, in Myanmar’s Kayin state, passing through Thailand, according to a statement released by the ministry.
Scam operations have been a major issue in the border regions of Thailand, Myanmar, and China, with citizens from all three countries falling victim to online fraud and exploitation. In 2023, tens of thousands of Chinese nationals were deported from Myanmar by both government and rebel forces due to their involvement in criminal activities such as forced labor, human trafficking, and money laundering, which saw a rise after casinos in Southeast Asia closed down due to COVID-19.
A resident of Myawaddy expressed the need to eliminate gambling establishments in the area.
“The [Chinese nationals] were sent back through Thailand for illegally residing in Shwe Kokko. They mentioned that authorities have been deporting them continuously,” the resident stated anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“There are still gambling establishments in Myawaddy. The large gambling operations have split, giving rise to many smaller ones in the city center. They are still operating.”
Since March 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been collaborating with Myanmar and Thai authorities to crack down on transnational fraud and online gambling at the border. The 800 deported Chinese nationals were connected to an online money laundering syndicate, as per the statement.
The specifics of the repatriation were not verified by RFA. The arrests were a result of ongoing trilateral cooperation between China, Myanmar, and Thailand.
According to Myanmar’s junta-backed media, a total of 52,820 foreigners, including 50,772 Chinese nationals, were repatriated between October 5, 2023, and March 6, 2024.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
