Indian Air Force deployed two special C-130J Super Hercules flights to repatriate 197 Indian nationals from Mae Sot, Thailand, on Monday, November 10, 2025. The evacuees, detained by Thai authorities after illegally crossing from Myanmar’s notorious Myawaddy region, were allegedly lured into cyber scam compounds under false job promises. The swift aerial evacuation underscores India’s aggressive stance against transnational human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable citizens abroad.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul personally visited Mae Sot airport to oversee the repatriation, meeting Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh upon landing. During the interaction, Charnvirakul expressed profound gratitude to the Indian government for its rapid response and pledged full Thai cooperation in dismantling scam syndicates. “Thailand stands firmly with India in combating cyber fraud and human trafficking,” he stated, as both leaders vowed to strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint operations targeting criminal hubs along the porous Thai-Myanmar border.
The repatriated individuals had fallen prey to sophisticated recruitment rackets offering lucrative IT jobs in Southeast Asia, only to be coerced into fraudulent call centers upon arrival in Myawaddy. Stripped of passports and forced to conduct online scams under armed guard, many endured months of captivity before escaping across the Moei River into Thailand. Thai immigration officials arrested them for illegal entry but, following diplomatic intervention, processed their deportation rather than prosecution, enabling the IAF-led evacuation in coordination with India’s Embassy in Bangkok and Consulate in Chiang Mai.
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The Indian Embassy issued a stern advisory alongside the operation, warning citizens against unverified overseas job offers. “Always authenticate recruiters through official channels and never surrender travel documents,” the statement read, emphasizing that Thailand’s visa-free entry for Indians is strictly for tourism or short business visits—not employment. Authorities revealed that over 5,000 Indians remain trapped in similar scam centers across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, prompting India to escalate consular outreach and anti-trafficking task forces in the region.
This repatriation marks the largest single-day evacuation of scam victims by the IAF and signals heightened bilateral resolve. With cyber fraud losses exceeding ₹10,000 crore annually for Indian victims, both nations have agreed to establish a real-time alert system for suspicious job postings. As the rescued Indians touched down at Delhi’s Palam Air Base to emotional family reunions, officials confirmed that rehabilitation support—including counseling and job placement—will be provided to help them rebuild lives shattered by the ordeal.
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