197 Indian Nationals Repatriated From Thailand After Illegal Border Crossing From Myanmar Scam Centers

The Indian Embassy in Thailand announced on Monday that 197 Indian citizens have been successfully repatriated from Mae Sot, Thailand, to India through two dedicated Indian Air Force (IAF) flights.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul personally visited Mae Sot to supervise the repatriation operation, where he met with Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh at the airport.

According to the Embassy statement, Prime Minister Charnvirakul expressed Thailand's sincere gratitude for India's swift action in repatriating the detainees from Mae Sot and promised continued support from Thai authorities to facilitate the return of Indian nationals rescued from scam operations in Myanmar.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to fighting transnational criminal activities, particularly cyber scams and human trafficking in the region, and pledged to strengthen cooperation between relevant agencies to address these issues effectively.

The Embassy clarified that the repatriated Indians had been detained in Mae Sot after illegally crossing into Thailand from Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they had allegedly been working in cyber scam centers. Their detention by Thai authorities was due to violations of Thai immigration laws resulting from their illegal entry.

The repatriation was coordinated by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai, working closely with various agencies of the Royal Thai Government. This effort is part of the Indian government's ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals in distress overseas.

The Embassy strongly advised Indian nationals to thoroughly verify the credentials of foreign employers and investigate the background of recruiting agents and companies before accepting overseas job offers.

Additionally, the Embassy emphasized that the visa-free entry privilege for Indian passport holders into Thailand is specifically intended for tourism and short business visits only and should not be misused for seeking employment in Thailand.