Myanmar(The COW News Digital)Authorities in Myanmar have conducted a major crackdown on online fraud centres, rescuing hundreds of foreign nationals, including 38 Pakistanis, who were allegedly forced to work in cybercrime networks. The operation was carried out by local military forces in areas notorious for scam compounds run by transnational criminal syndicates.
According to regional security officials, the rescued Pakistani nationals were handed over to Thai forces after they crossed the Myanmar border. The group was later transported to an immigration facility in Bangkok, from where they will be deported in phases. Thai authorities have formally notified the Government of Pakistan about the repatriation process through an official communication.
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Thai officials stated that an additional 60 Pakistani nationals, who escaped from forced labour in these illegal fraud hubs, are currently staying in shelter facilities inside Myanmar. Authorities say the individuals had initially travelled in search of employment but ended up trapped in scam compounds, where they were coerced into conducting online fraud operations targeting victims worldwide.
The Thai government has urged Pakistan to investigate and prosecute recruitment agents involved in trafficking citizens to Southeast Asia under false promises of employment. In its letter, Thailand has also recommended placing the names of deported individuals on Pakistan’s Exit Control List (ECL) for five years to discourage future misuse of travel documents.
Officials say Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia have emerged as regional hubs for online criminal enterprises. The syndicates operate call centers where foreign nationals are forced to commit financial fraud, identity theft, and cryptocurrency scams. These networks are reportedly controlled by organized crime groups with links across multiple countries.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed that human trafficking and fraudulent job recruitment remain a significant concern, particularly targeting young individuals seeking overseas employment. FIA officials warned that cybercrime operators lure victims with advertisements offering high-paying jobs, only to detain them once they arrive on foreign soil.
According to investigators, many of the trapped workers are denied passports, restricted from communication, and subjected to threats or violence if they refuse to cooperate. The agency appealed to Pakistani nationals to avoid accepting overseas job offers without proper verification and to remain cautious about visa agents promising work in Southeast Asia.
The crackdown in Myanmar has raised hopes for further rescue operations, but officials caution that thousands remain trapped in remote facilities. Regional governments have pledged greater cooperation to dismantle the human trafficking and cybercrime networks fueling the illegal industry.
