Freed but Stranded: Thousands of Malaysians and Foreigners Rescued from Myanmar Scam Hubs Stuck in Squalid Border Camp

MYAWADDY (Myanmar), Feb 28 — Hundreds of exhausted young men lie in an overcrowded detention camp in Myawaddy, a Myanmar border town, enduring scorching heat by day and mosquito-infested nights as they wait to return home.

They are among 7,000 people from over two dozen countries recently freed from scam compounds but now trapped in limbo, awaiting repatriation through Thailand.

Dire Conditions and Desperate Appeals

The squalid conditions at the temporary camp, visited by AFP, have left many detainees pleading to leave.

"The toilets and showers are so dirty they're unusable," said an 18-year-old Malaysian. "I just want to contact my parents and go home."

A Chinese detainee, Wang, expressed relief at the prospect of returning home. "I can finally escape this hell... China is the safest," he said.

Others, like an Indian man deceived into a scam job, have made repeated pleas to their embassies, saying, "Help me, help me, help me. But no one helps."

Myanmar's Scam Centre Crisis

In recent years, scam centres have proliferated in Myanmar’s lawless border regions, generating billions of dollars through online fraud, including romance and investment scams.

Many workers were trafficked or tricked into these operations, suffering beatings and abuse. However, China — home to most victims — treats them as criminal suspects rather than victims.

Under pressure from Beijing, Myanmar’s junta and allied militias have launched crackdowns. The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), which controls Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, recently released thousands but now struggles to care for them.

"People are crammed together. We cook for thousands daily and worry about disease outbreaks," said BGF spokesman Naing Maung Zaw, urging embassies to speed up repatriations.

Slow Repatriation and Legal Uncertainty

Myanmar’s ongoing civil war has complicated efforts to dismantle scam operations, as many compounds lie beyond junta control.

While 600 detainees were repatriated to China last week, most returned in handcuffs, facing criminal charges. Thailand, Myanmar, and China are now in talks to coordinate further repatriations.

Meanwhile, frustration grows among those left behind. A Pakistani detainee, among 14 hoping to return before Ramadan, asked: "We know we're safe now. But it's been eight days. Why can’t we go to Thailand?"

With limited resources, BGF officials pleaded with embassies to expedite the process. "Come and take your nationals… They want to go home." — AFP