Sixteen Thais who were duped into working for a scam syndicate in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have been safely repatriated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
Ministry spokesman, Nikorndej Balankura, said the group was brought back safely after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow to work closely with the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon, the Royal Thai Police and officials from the Naresuan Task Force to secure their repatriation.
The group – comprising 10 men and six women – crossed back into Thailand via the Mae Sot-Myawaddy permanent border checkpoint in Tak on Sunday.
The group said they were lured into working for the syndicate after responding to job advertisements on social media promising work in Myanmar casinos, he said.
Authorities are now working to verify their information under Thailand’s National Referral Mechanism.