Bangkok- In a major humanitarian and diplomatic operation, India on Monday successfully repatriated 197 of its nationals from Mae Sot, Thailand, after they were detained by Thai authorities for illegal entry following their escape from cyber scam compounds in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
The large-scale evacuation was conducted using two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J aircraft, under the coordinated efforts of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian Embassies in Thailand and Myanmar, and Thai government agencies. The operation carried added significance as Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul personally supervised the evacuation and met Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh, reaffirming the two nations’ shared commitment to counter cybercrime and human trafficking in the region.
According to Thai officials, the rescued Indians were lured through fake job offers to border towns in Myanmar, where they were forcibly employed in cyber fraud operations targeting victims across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Many endured months of confinement and coercion before fleeing across the Thai border in search of safety.
This latest repatriation follows a March 2025 operation, in which 549 Indians were brought back from similar cybercrime hubs, and another mission just weeks earlier that saw 270 nationals, including 26 women, repatriated from Thai custody after escaping Myanmar’s infamous KK Park cyber scam center. Collectively, these efforts represent one of India’s largest humanitarian rescue missions in recent years.
Upon their return, the individuals will undergo verification and questioning by Indian investigative agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to determine their role, if any, in cyber frauds that collectively defrauded victims of over $2 billion globally in 2024. Authorities believe many were victims of human trafficking who were trapped and exploited under threat.
An MEA official described the evacuation as a landmark in India’s “cyber diplomacy”, emphasizing its commitment to safeguard citizens abroad while tackling emerging digital threats through international collaboration. “This mission underscores both India’s resolve to protect its people and the global need for coordinated action against transnational cybercrime,” the official said.
Experts have hailed the speed and precision of the airlift as a model of inter-agency coordination, highlighting India’s growing ability to respond to non-traditional security challenges such as cyber-enabled trafficking and cross-border digital fraud.
The presence of Thailand’s Prime Minister during the evacuation lent strong diplomatic weight to the operation and underscored the global alarm over Myanmar’s border-based cyber scam networks, which have drawn victims and workers from multiple countries. Both governments reiterated their commitment to dismantling these transnational syndicates and ensuring that exploited individuals are rescued and rehabilitated.
As cyber fraud increasingly transcends borders, the Mae Sot evacuation stands as a symbol of international cooperation—showing that the fight against digital deception is no longer confined to the virtual realm, but demands real-world alliances, humanitarian action, and policy innovation to safeguard global digital integrity.
