Thailand rescues 7,000 from illegal Myanmar scam centers

Thai authorities have rescued around 7,000 individuals from illegal scam call centers in Myanmar as part of a crackdown on transnational crime syndicates operating in the region. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the rescues on February 19, stating that preparations are underway to transfer the victims to Thailand, with the potential for up to 10,000 people to be rescued. Reports reveal disturbing evidence of torture among the victims, who were forced to work under brutal conditions with threats of violence. The scam operations, which include various types of fraud, have become a major issue, resulting in significant financial losses estimated between $18 billion and $37 billion in 2023. The crackdown follows increasing regional cooperation between Thailand and China to address these cyber crime networks. Despite the recent successes, the ongoing political instability in Myanmar poses challenges to eradicating these operations completely.