Thailand Welcomes 61 Foreign Nationals Trafficking Victims from Myanmar

Synopsis

Thai authorities have taken in 61 foreign nationals, including over a dozen Indians, suspected of being victims of human trafficking and scams in Myanmar. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed their arrival at the Mae Sot border checkpoint in Tak province.

Key Takeaways

61 foreign nationals received in Thailand.
Includes over a dozen Indians among the victims.
Rescue coordinated by Thai authorities.
Victims will undergo screening for trafficking status.
Myanmar collaborates on tackling online scams.

Bangkok, Feb 7 (NationPress) Thai officials have taken custody of 61 foreign individuals, including more than a dozen Indians, who are suspected victims of human trafficking and fraudulent schemes in Myanmar, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

The rescued group comprises 39 Chinese nationals, 13 Indians, 5 Indonesians, and one each from Ethiopia, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, as detailed by Phumtham during the transfer at the Mae Sot border checkpoint in Thailand's Tak province.

Immediately after their arrival, the rescued individuals were placed under the supervision of pertinent agencies and will undergo a screening process to ascertain their status as trafficking victims and evaluate any potential involvement in criminal activities, he noted.

The government of Myanmar is dedicated to working closely with neighboring nations and international organizations to combat online scams and gambling syndicates, as reported by the Xinhua news agency citing the Myanmar News Agency.

Efforts to gather intelligence from local and regional sources are being enhanced, with a focus on rapid communication of any pertinent information. This comprehensive strategy is designed to dismantle these criminal enterprises and bolster national security, according to the report.

The World Health Organization indicates that human trafficking is a global issue and one of the most disgraceful crimes, impacting millions globally and stripping them of their dignity. Traffickers exploit women, men, and children from all corners of the globe, coercing them into exploitative conditions daily. While sexual exploitation is the most recognized form of human trafficking, hundreds of thousands are also trafficked for forced labor, domestic servitude, child begging, or organ removal.

Almost every nation in the world is touched by human trafficking, whether as a point of origin, transit, or destination, with victims from at least 127 countries reported to have been exploited across 137 states.

Worldwide, one in five victims of human trafficking are children, although in poorer areas, such as Africa and the Greater Mekong, they represent the majority of trafficked individuals. Meanwhile, women constitute two-thirds of the global victims of human trafficking.