First 300 Chinese nationals board flights home in planned handover of 1,208 scam suspects

On the morning of December 1, Tak province security personnel and immigration police took the first 300 Chinese nationals linked to alleged online scam operations from holding rooms at Mae Sot International Airport, beginning a coordinated China–Thailand–Myanmar handover. The group had fled scam compounds including the KK complex near Myawaddy, Myanmar. During the preceding month, Myanmar’s military had carried out operations against local scam groups, overrun several compounds and detained many people allegedly involved. Following Myanmar’s transfers and Thailand’s processing, this round involved a total of 1,208 people. The report said all handovers followed Thai legal procedures. After six Chinese charter flights arrived at Mae Sot International Airport that day, Thai immigration police escorted the first 300 people for the handover. Accompanying Chinese police checked identity documents individually and conducted strict security screening, after which officers escorted the group onto the aircraft. Security around the airport remained high and the process proceeded in an orderly manner. Under the schedule, this round of repatriation would run from December 1 to 4, with China sending six charter flights each day to return a total of 1,208 Chinese nationals allegedly involved. The cross-border cooperation was described as significant progress in the three countries’ joint efforts against online fraud. Compiled by this station