In a continued effort to rescue Indian nationals duped into cyber scam networks across Southeast Asia, the Indian government is preparing to bring back another batch of around 250 citizens by April 15.
The rescue operation, led by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), will mark the third such repatriation mission in recent weeks.
The evacuees, held captive in scam compounds in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, were reportedly lured with fraudulent job offers and later coerced into participating in online frauds.
ALSO READ: Empanelment for Speakers, Trainers, and Cyber Security Experts Opens at Future Crime Research Foundation
Many of these individuals, originating from economically weaker backgrounds, were trafficked into what has now become a billion-dollar cybercrime industry in the region.
“An IAF aircraft will operate from Mae Sot in Thailand before April 15 to bring back the next batch of rescued Indians,” a source told.
The government has already flown home over 500 citizens via two IAF flights on March 10 and 12. Many of the rescued had been trapped in KK Park and Myawaddy — regions of Myanmar under the control of armed militant groups and notorious for lawlessness and cyber scam activity.
The Indian Embassy worked in collaboration with Myanmar’s Border Guard Forces to extract the victims and move them to safer locations ahead of their return.
According to estimates, nearly 2,000 Indian nationals remain trapped in similar conditions. Government officials are now intensifying efforts to secure their safe return over the coming months.
These actions follow warnings from international organizations, including the United Nations and the United States Institute of Peace, about the growing scale of cyber scam operations in the region. A May 2024 report estimated that cyber scams in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos yield a combined $38.7 billion annually — nearly 40% of their total GDP. In Myanmar alone, over 120,000 people are believed to be working in scam centres against their will, with some subjected to abuse and forced labour.
Authorities have stressed that while many are victims of trafficking, those who willingly engage in scam activities will face legal consequences.
The Indian government has urged citizens to remain cautious of dubious overseas job offers and to verify employment opportunities through official channels.
ALSO READ: “DFIR Capability Maturity Assessment Framework” by ALGORITHA
With international pressure mounting — particularly from China, whose citizens form a large portion of the rescued — regional governments have begun cracking down on these criminal networks. As a result, over 7,000 individuals from at least 24 countries have been freed in recent weeks.
Efforts by Indian diplomatic missions, in collaboration with local authorities, are ongoing to dismantle the networks that continue to exploit vulnerable populations and to ensure the safe return of all trafficked Indian citizens.