India rescues 500+ nationals trapped in Myanmar, Thailand cybercrime gangs, warns against fake jobs

More than 500 Indian nationals, who were lured into fake job offers and later forced to participate in cybercrimes in Myanmar and Thailand, have been successfully repatriated, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed. The large-scale rescue operation, carried out in coordination with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand, took place over two days, with 283 Indians returning on Monday and 266 on Tuesday.

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the individuals were trapped in fraudulent employment schemes, where they were forced to engage in illegal activities, particularly cybercrime. These job rackets, operating along the Myanmar-Thailand border, have been exploiting job seekers by promising high-paying opportunities abroad but instead coercing them into working in scam centers.

“The Government of India arranged for the safe repatriation of 266 Indians yesterday by an IAF aircraft, who were released from cybercrime centers in Southeast Asia. On Monday, 283 Indians were similarly repatriated. Indian embassies worked with Myanmar and Thailand governments to secure their release and facilitate their repatriation,” Jaiswal said in a statement on social media, along with images of the rescued individuals.

The Indian government has been actively working to secure the release of victims caught in such employment scams. Authorities have previously issued warnings through advisories and social media campaigns, urging Indian nationals to verify foreign job offers before accepting them. Many of those trapped in these fraudulent operations were unaware of the nature of the jobs until it was too late.

On Monday, the 283 Indians were repatriated by an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Mae Sot, Thailand, a region known for harboring illegal scam networks. Similar operations took place on Tuesday, bringing home another 266 individuals. The MEA emphasized that it will continue efforts to bring back any remaining victims and prevent such incidents in the future.

The ministry reiterated its cautionary stance, advising job seekers to verify the credentials of foreign employers, recruitment agents, and companies before accepting overseas employment. It urged individuals to consult Indian missions abroad to ensure job legitimacy and avoid falling into the traps of criminal syndicates.