New Delhi: India has announced its cooperation with Thai authorities to repatriate Indian nationals who recently fled Thailand from a notorious scam center located in Myanmar. This joint effort is underway even as Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that a special flight is being arranged to evacuate approximately 500 Indians.
The situation arose after Myanmar’s military launched a crackdown on KK Park, a significant cybercrime hub backed by Chinese criminal gangs. This action prompted an influx of over 1,500 individuals from 28 countries, including India and China, into Mae Sot, a border town in Thailand, over the past week.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, stated, “We are aware of Indian nationals who have been detained by Thai authorities. They had crossed into Thailand from Myanmar over the past few days.” He further added, “Our mission in Thailand is working closely with Thai authorities to verify their nationality and to repatriate them after necessary legal formalities are completed in Thailand.”
Sources indicate that approximately 500 Indian nationals illegally entered Thailand recently, with Mae Sot being their primary location. These individuals are largely comprised of victims lured by cybercrime rings in KK Park with promises of lucrative employment, as well as some involved in operating the scam centers.
The repatriation process has been complicated by the fact that many individuals lack passports or had entered Thailand illegally following the Myanmar military’s operation. Despite these challenges, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed confidence that the Indian ambassador and immigration authorities would expedite the legal verification process for the 500 Indian nationals before their departure on the special flight. He mentioned that India has requested Thailand’s cooperation and aims to manage the situation without placing an undue burden on the host country.
While an official timeline for the flight’s arrival in Thailand has not been provided by the Indian side, Prime Minister Anutin confirmed that the plane is scheduled to land directly in Mae Sot.
This is not the first such operation; in March, India successfully repatriated 549 nationals who had been freed from similar cybercrime centers along the Myanmar-Thailand border via two military flights.
KK Park, located in Myanmar, is known as a notorious complex where various Chinese criminal gangs reportedly conduct transnational cyber scams. The compound is allegedly protected by local militia groups with connections to Myanmar’s military leadership.