In a major rescue operation, the Indian government repatriated 270 Indian nationals, including 26 women, from Thailand on November 6, marking the first batch of citizens lured or forced into working at cyber scam operations in Myanmar. Two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft facilitated the evacuation from Mae Sot in Thailand to Hindon Airbase near Delhi, with a refueling stop in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The repatriation follows a mid-October raid by Myanmar’s military on KK Park, a notorious cybercrime hub in Myawaddy near the Thai border, known for housing large-scale online fraud operations involving fake romances, investment scams, and illegal gambling. The crackdown triggered a mass exodus, with over 1,500 people from 28 countries crossing the Moei River into Thailand’s Mae Sot town. Among them were approximately 465-500 Indians, many detained by Thai authorities for illegal entry.
The Indian Embassy in Bangkok and Consulate in Chiang Mai coordinated closely with Thai officials to verify nationalities and arrange the special flights. The remaining Indians are scheduled for repatriation next week, potentially bringing the total to 465.
Officials revealed that the group includes both victims trafficked with false job promises of high-paying IT roles and individuals potentially involved in the scams. Upon arrival, returnees will be questioned by Indian agencies to uncover recruitment networks, modus operandi, and possible domestic accomplices.
This is India’s second large-scale operation this year; in March 2025, 549 nationals were rescued from similar hubs along the Myanmar-Thailand border. Southeast Asia remains a global epicenter for cyber scams, with the UN estimating hundreds of compounds generating nearly $40 billion annually through forced labor and fraud.
