The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that additional groups of Chinese nationals suspected of fraud-related activities are set to be repatriated from Myanmar to the Chinese mainland.
In a recent operation, the first batch of 200 Chinese citizens involved in fraud were safely returned to China from Myanmar via Thailand, escorted by Chinese police.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed these developments, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between China, Thailand, and Myanmar to dismantle cross-border crime networks engaged in 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 lives and property of citizens from China and other countries,\" Guo stated.
He highlighted that online gambling and scam operations have detrimental effects and assured that those involved will be prosecuted under the law. Guo affirmed China's commitment to working with international partners to combat cross-border cybercrimes and safeguard the rights and welfare of its citizens.
The repatriated suspects were first detained in Mae Sot, Thailand, a border town adjacent to Myawaddy, Myanmar. They were then transported to Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, via several chartered flights.
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security reported that Thailand has intensified its measures by cutting off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to Myawaddy and enhancing patrols to prevent illegal border crossings by fraud suspects. Concurrently, Myanmar forces have been conducting raids on telecom fraud operations in Myawaddy, arresting suspects and rescuing Chinese nationals affected by scam activities.
In recent years, Chinese authorities have intensified their efforts to combat these pervasive crimes. Earlier this month, a Chinese court in Zhejiang Province prosecuted 23 individuals, including key members of major telecom fraud groups based in northern Myanmar, charging them with multiple offenses such as fraud, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, and organizing prostitution.
Data from the Supreme People's Procuratorate indicates that between January and November 2024, over 67,000 individuals nationwide were charged with telecom and online fraud, marking a 58.5% increase compared to the previous year.
Since initiating 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.
Reference(s):
MOFA: More fraud suspects to be repatriated from Myanmar to China
cgtn.com
