The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that additional groups of Chinese nationals suspected of fraud-related crimes are set to be repatriated from Myanmar to China. This follows the return of the first batch of 200 individuals who arrived in China from Myanmar via Thailand under the protection of Chinese police on Thursday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed the repatriation, highlighting the collaborative efforts between China, Thailand, and Myanmar to combat crimes such as online gambling and scams along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
\"We appreciate the strong steps taken by Thailand and Myanmar to dismantle the scam gangs and protect the life and property of citizens from China and other countries,\" Guo stated. He emphasized that online gambling and scams are detrimental activities that will be met with legal consequences. Guo assured that China remains committed to working with international partners to eliminate cross-border fraud and safeguard the rights and well-being of its citizens.
The Ministry of Public Security reported that the suspects were first transported to Thailand's Mae Sot, which borders Myawaddy, before being flown back to China on several chartered flights, ultimately arriving at an airport in Nanjing, the capital of eastern Jiangsu Province.
Thailand has taken significant measures by cutting off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to Myawaddy, while also enhancing patrols to prevent illegal border crossings by individuals involved in fraud. Myanmar has also deployed forces to raid telecom fraud compounds in Myawaddy, arresting suspects and rescuing Chinese nationals trapped in scam operations.
In recent years, Chinese authorities have intensified their efforts to address these pervasive crimes. Earlier this month, a court in Zhejiang Province convicted 23 defendants, including key members of major telecom fraud groups based in northern Myanmar, on charges ranging from fraud and intentional homicide to drug trafficking and organizing prostitution.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate reported that between January and November 2024, Chinese prosecutors charged over 67,000 individuals with telecom and online fraud, marking a 58.5 percent increase year-on-year. Since launching a special campaign in July 2023, Chinese police have apprehended more than 53,000 suspects involved in telecom and internet fraud operating from northern Myanmar.
