Myanmar rescue operation frees 525 Thais from call scam gangs 2023.12.29 ☑Press ☑Thailand,ประเทศไทย,泰国
A recent rescue operation in Laukkaing town, northern Myanmar, freed 525 Thais from the clutches of call scam gangs. However, only one-third of them were identified as actual victims of human trafficking. The revelation was made during a teleconference between Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn, stationed in Bangkok, and senior police officials in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand.
The police operation carried out between November 18 and December 15, led to the rescue of these Thai nationals from Laukkaing. The majority of the rescued individuals were repatriated through China, while the rest were returned via the border in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, according to Chiang Rai Police Commander Manop Senakul.
From the total number of rescued individuals, investigators determined that 174 were genuine victims of human trafficking. These individuals were enticed with lucrative job offers to administer gambling websites. However, upon accepting these offers, they were coerced into working as call scammers. If they expressed a desire for freedom, they were informed that it would cost them between 200,000 to 700,000 baht (US$5,858-20,505). If they couldn’t afford this, they were held captive and forced to continue their scam call duties, reported Bangkok Post.
➤缅甸救援行动将 525 名泰国人从电话诈骗团伙中解救出来 大多数获救的泰国人并未被贩运
最近，缅甸北部 Laukkaing（老街） 镇的一次救援行动将 525 名泰国人从电话诈骗团伙的手中解救出来。然而，其中只有三分之一被确定为人口贩运的实际受害者。这一消息是周三晚上在驻曼谷的国家警察副局长苏拉查特·哈克帕恩 (Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn) 与泰国最北部省份清莱的高级警察官员之间的电话会议上透露的。
警方于 11 月 18 日至 12 月 15 日期间开展行动，从 Laukkaing 解救了这些泰国国民。清莱警察指挥官马诺普·塞纳库尔表示，大多数获救人员是通过中国遣返的，其余人则通过清莱美塞县边境返回。
在所有获救人员中，调查人员确定 174 人是人口贩运的真正受害者。这些人被管理赌博网站的丰厚工作机会所吸引。然而，一旦他们上钩，他们被迫充当电话诈骗者。如果他们想要自由，他们就会被告知，这将花费他们 200,000 至 700,000 泰铢（5,858 美元至 20,505 美元）。据《曼谷邮报》报道，如果他们负担不起，他们就会被强行拘留并被迫继续履行拨打诈骗电话的职责。
苏拉查特没有解释剩下的人如何最终为诈骗团伙工作。不过，他确实透露，在被遣返回泰国的 525 人中，有 20 人受到逮捕令通缉。这一复杂案件继续展开，揭示了该地区人口贩运和剥削的令人不安的现实。

174 of 525 rescued Thais ‘trafficked’
PUBLISHED : 29 Dec 2023 at 04:00

Authorities have verified the identities of over 500 Thai citizens who were rescued from scam gangs in Laukkaing, north Myanmar, between November and December, saying 174 were victims of human trafficking.The finding was reported to deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, during a teleconference attended by senior police based in Chiang Rai on Wednesday evening.

Chiang Rai police commander, Pol Maj Gen Manop Senakul, said that in total, 525 Thais were rescued from Laukkaing between Nov 18 and Dec 15. Most were repatriated through China, due to the conflict between armed ethnic rebels and the junta in Myanmar, but some were brought home via the Thai-Myanmar border crossing in Mae Sai district.

After questioning those repatriated from Laukkaing, authorities concluded that 174 were actually human trafficking victims, Pol Maj Gen Manop said, adding they were lured by the scammers with the promise of high wages.

Initially, they were told they would be working as administrators for an online gambling website, but in reality, they were forced to work as scammers targeting Thai citizens.RELATED

They were told that they had to pay 200,000-700,000 baht if they wanted to leave, he said.

Pol Gen Surachate said authorities were still trying to figure out how the rest ended up in Myanmar.

However, he said that out of the 525 people brought back to Thailand, 20 were wanted by law enforcement agencies.

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Most Thais rescued from scam gangs were not trafficked
PUBLISHED : 28 Dec 2023 at 11:48

Thais rescued from Laukkaing board an army bus in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on Nov 18. (Photo: Pha Muang Task Force)

Only one-in-three of the 525 Thais rescued recently from abuse by call scam gangs in Laukkaing town in northern Myanmar were actual victims of human trafficking.This was reported during a teleconference involving deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, in Bangkok, and senior police in the northernmost province of Chiang Rai on Wednesday evening.

Chiang Rai police commander Pol Maj Gen Manop Senakul said 525 Thai nationals were rescued from Laukkaing between Nov 18 and Dec 15. Most of them were brought back through China, and the remainder through the border in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

Investigators had learned that 174 of them were actual victims of human trafficking, Pol Maj Gen Manop said. They were lured with offers of work as well-paid administrators of gambling websites.

In reality, once they were hooked they were forced to work as call scammers. If they wanted their freedom, they were told it would cost from 200,000 to 700,000 baht each. Otherwise, they were forcibly detained and forced to continue making scam calls.RELATED

Pol Gen Surachate did not say how the others came to be working there. He did say said that of the 525 people brought back to Thailand, 20 were wanted under arrest warrants.