BANGKOK — Thailand has taken in 260 human trafficking victims from Myanmar, with over half of them being Ethiopian nationals, the Thai army announced on Thursday (Feb 13). This large-scale repatriation is part of an intensified crackdown on scam centers operating along the country’s porous border. According to the United Nations, criminal syndicates have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people, forcing them into illegal online operations that generate billions of dollars annually, particularly along the Thai-Myanmar border.

The Thai army reported that the victims belonged to 20 different nationalities, with 138 of them identified as Ethiopians. While these illicit networks have existed for years, Thai authorities ramped up their efforts last month following the high-profile abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was lured to Thailand with a fake acting job offer. He was later rescued by Thai police in Myanmar.

On Wednesday, a large group of rescued trafficking victims was seen crossing the Moei River from Myanmar’s Myawaddy area into Thailand. Thai military personnel supervised their arrival and transported them in army vehicles. The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Myanmar rebel group controlling areas along the Thai border, stated that its forces discovered around 260 individuals during operations targeting forced labor camps. "We don’t know how they ended up here," said Major Saw San Aung, DKBA’s chief of staff.

"We are continuing our search for forced laborers and will ensure they are sent back." In response to the growing issue, earlier this month, Thailand cut electricity, fuel, and internet access to parts of Myanmar where these illegal scam operations are based, signaling Bangkok’s increasing concerns about their impact on Thailand’s tourism sector.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.