ISTANBUL

More than 620 Chinese nationals involved in telecom fraud have been repatriated from Myanmar's southeastern Myawaddy region, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced on Monday.

The repatriation follows a ministerial-level meeting in Bangkok on Friday, where officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand discussed strategies to combat cross-border telecommunications and online fraud, the Global Times reported, citing a Public Security Ministry statement.

During the meeting, the three nations agreed to enhance cross-border law enforcement cooperation, intensify crackdowns, and address the persistent rise in these crimes.

The statement described the gathering as a key milestone in regional efforts to curb telecommunications fraud.

The repatriation of the Chinese nationals came after pressure from the Chinese government and Thailand’s recent suspension of power, oil, and internet services in the affected areas.

Call centers in the region, operated by criminal syndicates, employ foreign workers, many of whom report being trafficked and coerced into executing online scams that defraud victims worldwide.