India Brings Back 266 Nationals Trapped in Myanmar Cybercrime Rackets

The Indian government has repatriated 266 citizens who were ensnared by cybercrime centers in Southeast Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday. An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft facilitated their safe return, marking a significant step in India’s fight against human trafficking and fraudulent job scams.

The MEA shared the update on X, stating, “Government of India arranged for the safe repatriation of 266 Indians yesterday by an IAF aircraft, who were released from cybercrime centres in South East Asia.” This operation follows the rescue of 283 nationals from Myanmar on Monday, brought back via Mae Sot, Thailand. Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand collaborated with local authorities to secure their release from scam hubs along the Myanmar-Thailand border, where victims were coerced into cybercrime after being lured with fake job offers.

The MEA emphasized the coordinated efforts with Myanmar’s Union authorities and local groups in Myawaddy, a hotspot for such rackets. A special IAF flight on Monday repatriated the earlier batch, underscoring India’s commitment to tackling this growing menace. The ministry reiterated warnings against unverified overseas job offers, urging citizens to check employers’ credentials through Indian missions and scrutinize recruiting agents.

The Indian Embassy in Myanmar also celebrated the success, posting on X: “In coordination with Myanmar authorities and local groups, 283 Indian nationals at scam compounds in Myawaddy were released and repatriated yesterday through Mae Sot.” Earlier, on February 11, eight more Indians were freed from Myawaddy, part of a group of 19 foreigners deported to Thailand. The embassy has reinforced its caution against such job traps.