VIENTIANE: Thai authorities on Feb 18 apprehended five Lao and Thai women who illegally crossed the border in Thailand’s Tak Province after struggling with poor living conditions in Myanmar due to electricity and internet service cutoffs, as confirmed by the women to the Thai police.
The women, identified as three Lao and two Thai nationals aged 20 to 27, said they had willingly travelled to scam centre areas in Myawaddy’s Kyaukhat (Taichang) in Myanmar, opposite Chong Kaep village, for work in restaurants, nail salons, and karaoke television businesses.
Kyaukhat is a known scammer hub where Chinese crime groups allegedly operate under the protection of a pro-military warlord.
These groups engage in cross-border human trafficking and online scams, causing major financial losses worldwide.
However, due to recent Thai government actions cutting off electricity and internet access in the area, the women found it increasingly hard to survive and decided to return to Thailand.
Thai police took them into custody and brought them to Phop Phra Police Station for further legal procedures. It is still unclear whether or not the Lao women have been sent back to their country.
Thailand first announced the electricity cutoffs to five regions in Myanmar on Feb 5 as part of its effort to crack down on illegal activities in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle.
The goal was to prevent Myanmar from using Thai electricity unlawfully, with Myawaddy district among the affected areas. - Agencies
