Efforts are underway to Locate and Rescue Foreign Nationals Encountering Difficulties for Various Reasons in Myanmar
Since 2022, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, various countries have reached out to the Myanmar Police Force through diplomatic, Interpol and police liaison channels, requesting assistance in locating and rescuing their nationals who are encountering difficulties in Myanmar for various reasons.
During a period from 2022 to 12 February 2025, a total of 38 countries from Asian and Europe and South Africa regions, including China and ASEAN member countries, requested to locate and rescue a total of 4666 victims (3867 males and 799 females). Since ethnic armed organisations are operating in some of the border areas where victims are located, the Myanmar Police Force had to coordinate with the leaders of ethnic armed organisations as well as other relevant organisations to locate and rescue the said victims. Thanks to such relentless efforts, 1327 individuals (985 males and 342 females) out of 1399 individuals (1049 males and 350 females), rescued as of 12 February 2025, were handed over to relevant countries as per rules and regulations. Process is underway to repatriate and hand over the remaining 72 individuals (64 males and eight females) to relevant countries as soon as possible. Continuous efforts are underway to locate and rescue the remaining 3267 foreign nationals (2818 males and 449 females) in relevant areas as early as possible, and any updates will be informed to relevant embassies and countries in a timely manner.
In this regard, a total of 61 foreign nationals including 39 Chineses, one Kyrgystani, five Indonesians, one Ethiopian, one Pakistani, one Malaysian, 13 Indians who were trafficked and forced to engage in illegal online gambling, telecom fraud and other criminal activities in the Shwe Kokko, and KK Park of Myawady in Kayin state were found. These 61 individuals were handed over to Thai authorities via No (2) Myanmar-Thai Friendship bridge at 1:30 PM hours on 6 February 2025 following immigration legal procedures. Among the 61 foreign nationals, since a total of 21 individuals (15 males and six females), 12 from India (9 males and three females), four from Indonesia (two males and two females), five from China (four males and one female) were on the list of requests to be rescued by relevant countries, the relevant Embassies in Yangon were also already informed.
The Myanmar Police Force is investigating and taking punitive actions against all who are engaged in illegal online scamming, online gambling and telecom fraud by cooperating with law enforcement agencies of neighbouring countries, international police forces and international organisations. Moreover, efforts are underway to locate and rescue the foreign nationals who encounter difficulties for various reasons and hand them over to relevant countries, it is reported.
Source: www.moha.gov.mm