Location: Thai-Myanmar Border, Tak Province, Thailand.

Thai-Myanmar Border, Tak Province, Thailand.

On June 20, Thai authorities stopped a van which was suspected of transporting undocumented foreign victims across the Thai-Myanmar border for involvement in cyber scam operations. There were nine foreign victims : four Nigerians, two Indians, one Cameroonian, one Ugandan and one Vietnamese. Among them, two of them entered Thailand legally while the other five had entered Thailand through illegal routes by foot and arranged vehicles by the scam operations. Some of them could not provide any official documents entering Thailand. They were believed to be the victims transported to the scam operations in Myanmar. 

The arrest happened after Thai authorities followed a tip-off on Saturday from a former victim of a call-centre scam gang in Dubai. He reported that he was receiving messages from foreign nationals seeking help while being held in a van heading for the border.

The driver was a Myanmar national, Than Zaw Tun (31) was arrested along with seven other foreign suspects in another vehicle which acted as a scout. Mr. Kampere (Uganda), Mr. Odoh Destiny (Nigeria), Mr. Claude Munoh (Cameroon), Mr. Bui Quang (Vietnam), Mr. Chibundu Benard (Nigeria), Mr. Kingsly (Nigeria), and Mr. Valentine Edokpo (Nigeria) were charged with illegal entry and overstaying in Thailand while Than Zaw  Tun faces charges of assisting illegal immigrants by helping them evade arrest.

During investigation, Than Zaw Tun confessed that he was contacted by a Myanmar financier, Ko Ye via Telegram. He was instructed to pick up the foreigners in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district and at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then drive them to Tak province near the Myanmar border. He was paid 2,000 baht per person, receiving a total 18,000 baht for this trip. 

The Thai police operation was carried out under the supervision of Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaownasai, Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Pol Maj Gen Phonsak Laoruchiralai, Commander of the Highway Police Bureau. The on-site operation was led by Pol Lt Col Phichaya Thawisri and officers from Highway Police Division 5.

All suspects were handed over to Thongtham Police Station for further legal proceedings. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) stated that the operation is part of its continued crackdown on transnational criminal networks and efforts to protect individuals from human trafficking and exploitation in online scam operations.

Resources

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3274625/police-rescue-scam-victims