Thailand investigates evacuees for call scam ties
BANGKOK, THAILAND — Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is probing a fraudulent call center operation involving recently repatriated Thai citizens from Myanmar.
The investigation follows last week’s evacuation of 41 Thais from Laukkaing, Shan State, near the Chinese border. The returnees included both innocent people and alleged traffickers and workers recruited into the scam.
Officials screened the evacuees to determine their level of involvement. The checks aim to protect Thai citizens from criminal exploitation.
CIB Chief Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej is leading the investigation. He also heads Thailand’s Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre spearheading the crackdown.
An additional 266 stranded Thais were repatriated this week via chartered flights from Kunming, China. They underwent immigration processing and screening upon arrival in Thailand.
Authorities remain alert about foreigners luring Thais into dubious overseas job offers after the United Nations Human Rights Office released a report highlighting the alarming rise of individuals trafficked into online scams in Southeast Asia. They advised exercising caution regarding vague recruitment pitches.
