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After Actor’s Kidnapping, Beijing and Bangkok Do More to Battle Scam Gangs

Published: Feb. 13, 2025 7:05 p.m. GMT+8

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Saw Chit Thu, leader of Karen Border Guard Force, the armed militia that controls Myawaddy.

Following a high-profile case in which a Chinese actor was trafficked to a telecom scam center in Myanmar after being lured to Thailand under the pretext of filming, Beijing and Bangkok have ramped up their efforts to tackle transnational crime.

On Tuesday, the Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced it would seek arrest warrants for several key figures in the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), a militia that controls Myawaddy, a Myanmar city near the Thai border that’s known to be home to organized fraud gangs.

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Explore the story in 30 seconds

A Chinese actor's trafficking incident to a scam center in Myanmar highlights Bangkok and Beijing's increased efforts against transnational crime.
Thai authorities seek arrest warrants for Karen BGF leaders over human trafficking linked to telecom scams involving rescued Indian nationals.
China and Thailand agree on joint efforts against cross-border crimes, impacting tourism while cutting power to suspected fraud areas in Myanmar.

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What Happened When

Early January 2025：: Chinese actor Wang Xing was tricked into travelling to Thailand, kidnapped, and taken to Myawaddy.

January 11, 2025：: Thai authorities rescued Wang Xing, who returned to China.

A week after January 11, 2025：: China's Ministry of Public Security announced the dismantling of a major trafficking network in Myawaddy with Thai authorities, leading to 12 arrests.

February 5, 2025：: Thai authorities cut off electricity to parts of Myanmar where telecom fraud centers operate.

February 6, 2025：: The BGF handed over 61 individuals believed to be victims of telecom fraud and human trafficking in Myawaddy to Thai authorities.

February 8, 2025：: China and Thailand issued a joint statement agreeing to step up cooperation in combatting cross-border crimes with a 'zero tolerance' policy.

AI generated, for reference only