61 Individuals Rescued from Myanmar Scams as Thai Defence Minister Inspects Border Area
PUBLISHED: 6 Feb 2025
In a significant operation on Thursday, 61 individuals, including 39 Chinese nationals, were rescued from a scam operation in Myanmar and returned to Thailand. The Myanmar Border Guard Force transferred these individuals to Thai authorities at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Bridge in Mae Sot, Tak province.
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who was present for the handover during an inspection of the border area, stated that the group also included 13 Indians, one Kazakh, five Indonesians, one Ethiopian, one Pakistani, and one Malaysian.
The Thai government is currently evaluating the implications of its decision to suspend electricity supplies to three regions in Myanmar where criminal networks operate, coinciding with the recent rescue operation. This power suspension commenced on Wednesday, and while initial assessments suggest minimal disruption to Thai border communities, the situation remains under evaluation concerning its effects on Myanmar.
Reports from within Myanmar indicate that while households and small businesses are facing challenges, larger criminal organizations, predominantly led by Chinese operatives, continue to function, often utilizing their own generators.
The Provincial Electricity Authority has projected an estimated revenue loss of 600 million baht annually due to the power suspension, equating to 0.1% of their total income. Despite acknowledging these economic impacts, the Defence Minister underscored that national security remains the utmost priority.
Following the first day of the electricity cut, preliminary data suggest that illicit activities, including call centre scams centered in Shwe Kokko, have reportedly decreased by approximately 40%.
On the subject of Myanmar’s potential plans to procure electricity from Laos, the Defence Minister stated that while Myanmar has the right to explore this option, Thailand’s focus will remain on securing its borders and dismantling criminal enterprises operating in the region.
In Thailand, authorities have reported that call-centre scams have resulted in over 557,500 criminal cases, accruing damages exceeding 86 billion baht, with losses averaging about 80 million baht per day.
