84 Indonesians trafficked to Myanmar scam centres return home
Thousands of Indonesians have been enticed abroad for better-paying jobs, only to end up in the hands of transnational scam operators
Eighty-four Indonesians returned home overnight on two flights from Thailand, Indonesian officials said on Saturday, the latest group of alleged scam workers to be repatriated from the region.
Cyberscam operations, which have thrived in Myanmar’s lawless border areas for several years, lure foreign workers with promises of high-paying jobs but hold them hostage and force them into committing online fraud.
Under pressure from key ally Beijing, Myanmar has cracked down on some of the compounds, freeing around 7,000 workers from more than two dozen countries.
The 69 Indonesian men and 15 women landed in capital Jakarta after negotiations between Indonesian officials and their Thai and Myanmar counterparts, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affair’s citizen protection director Judha Nugraha said on Saturday.
“They will be brought to the Social Affairs Ministry’s safe house and trauma centre. They will undergo a rehabilitation process,” he said.
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Ministry spokesperson Rolliansyah Soemirat also confirmed their return.
