By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Myanmar repatriated on Saturday over 100 Chinese nationals linked to scam centers in Thailand, who are set to be flown to China from there, reported Myanmar state television.
After their transfer to Thailand from Myanmar, they were taken by bus to Mae Sot International Airport in North Thailand to board flights provided by China Southern Airlines which was organized by the Chinese government, according to Thai media outlet The Reporters.
Additionally, 10 more individuals, who were reported as human trafficking victims, were also repatriated, according to the media outlet.
Hundreds of victims have already been repatriated since Thursday to their respective countries. In total, over 600 Chinese individuals have been repatriated.
The Chinese nationals are among the thousands more expected to be evacuated from scam centers following pressure from the Chinese government and Thailand's suspension of power, oil, and internet services in the regions earlier this month.
The call-center compounds, operated by criminal gangs, employ foreign workers, many of whom claim they were trafficked and forced to participate in running internet scams that deceive people globally.
Some survivors of the scam centers said that the cuts and bruises on their bodies were caused by beatings and electric shocks they endured.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Wednesday that some 7,000 people, many of them being of foreign origin, were rescued from scam centers in Myanmar.
Regarding the repatriation efforts, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: “The aim is to eradicate the harmful tumor of online fraud, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.”
“Firmly combating online gambling and telecom fraud crimes is an inevitable choice to safeguard the common interests of regional countries.”