India Rescues 270 Citizens from Cyber Scam Networks in Myanmar, Returns Them via Thailand

New Delhi, November 6, 2025 — In a major humanitarian operation, India has rescued and repatriated 270 of its citizens, including 26 women, who had been trapped in cyber scam centres operating in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region. The group was brought back from Thailand’s Mae Sot town on Thursday through a coordinated effort by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai, with the help of Thai authorities. Two special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were deployed to bring them home safely.

Officials said the rescued individuals had been detained by Thai police for illegally crossing the border from Myanmar, where they were reportedly coerced into online fraud operations by transnational criminal syndicates. Many victims were initially duped by fake job offers promising high-paying IT roles abroad, only to be forced into cybercrime work once they arrived.

The Indian Embassy in Thailand confirmed that both Indian missions in Thailand and Myanmar continue to assist in securing the release of more nationals still trapped in the region’s scam hubs. The operation is part of New Delhi’s broader effort to protect citizens exploited by illegal recruitment rackets across Southeast Asia.

The rescue comes shortly after India announced plans to bring back around 500 citizens stranded in similar conditions following Myanmar’s crackdown on cybercrime rings in areas such as the notorious KK Park compound.

Authorities have once again urged Indian citizens to remain cautious of fraudulent overseas employment opportunities and to verify recruiters’ credentials before traveling abroad. Officials emphasized that Thailand’s visa-free entry policy for Indian passport holders is strictly for tourism and short business visits, not for employment.

Over the past year, India has undertaken several such missions from Southeast Asian countries as part of a wider international crackdown on cyber fraud networks that traffic foreign nationals into forced online scams.