Rising cases of 'selling piglets' human-trafficking scandal in Myanmar: Victims include actors, models, and students
Chinese actor Wang Xing was recently rescued after being trafficked into a telecom fraud compound in Myanmar, a practice colloquially referred to as "selling piglets." This incident has shed light on a growing number of similar cases involving victims such as models, university students, and young women. Many were lured by black-market intermediaries under the guise of work or travel opportunities in Thailand, only to be transported to Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they lost contact with their families. Some families have even reported receiving ransom demands as high as 200,000 RMB.
A support group for families of victims trapped in Myanmar now has 487 members, with 219 of them jointly signing a plea for help. As more cases surface, concerns over safety for those traveling to Thailand and Myanmar have grown.
Ransom demands and emotional appeals
One recent case involves two Hong Kong women who traveled to Thailand for part-time work but were abducted and taken to the Thai-Myanmar border. A week later, their families received a phone call demanding a ransom of $28,000 USD for their release.
The mother of one victim, Ms. Paang, tearfully pleaded with the media for help: "Please save my daughter!" She reported the case to the police and sought help from intermediaries, but the traffickers avoided face-to-face negotiations and insisted on money transfers. Ms. Paang ultimately refused to transfer the money, fearing it would not guarantee her daughter's safety. The traffickers later cut off contact, leaving her in despair.
New methods of deception
According to investigative reports, scam syndicates in Myanmar have refined their recruitment tactics following increased crackdowns in recent years. They now rely on a "locals deceive locals" approach, targeting victims through personal connections or trusted acquaintances. Victims are often lured to Thailand via major airports, such as Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, before being transported to Myawaddy and sold to different fraud compounds.
Public anxiety and safety concerns
The rising cases of trafficking have caused unease among tourists and Chinese nationals in Thailand. A Chinese tourist interviewed at Suvarnabhumi Airport revealed that his family had repeatedly warned him to stay vigilant during his trip. He and his companions planned to stick to urban areas, avoid remote destinations near the Myanmar border, and use only official apps for transportation.
Local business owners in Bangkok's Chinatown also expressed concern about the growing number of reports of Chinese nationals being trafficked to Myanmar. Although the city appears calm, the incidents have significantly shaken the confidence of Chinese tourists.
Victim demographics: From Students to professionals
Promises of quick money lure many victims of these scams. Recent cases include a third-year university student from Hunan who went missing after telling his family he was traveling to Guangzhou for work. His GPS location later revealed he was in Myawaddy.
Another case involved a young father from Guangdong who disappeared after being recruited online for a job in Thailand. Additionally, two young women from Hong Kong were abducted in December after boarding a vehicle arranged by a "friend" at the airport. Both were taken to fraud compounds in Myanmar, with their families receiving ransom demands.
The scale of the problem
Myanmar's fraud compounds have become global hubs for human trafficking, cyber fraud, and exploitation. According to Chinese media, an estimated 100,000 Chinese nationals are trafficked to Myanmar annually, with about 70,000 entering through Thailand each year. Victims are often forced to participate in telecom fraud and gambling operations or even subjected to sexual exploitation or organ trafficking.
The porous and lengthy Thailand-Myanmar border makes enforcement difficult, and Myawaddy has become a central hub for such activities. The United Nations reported in August 2023 that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into Southeast Asia's fraud compounds.
Despite international crackdowns, including joint efforts by China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, the problem persists. In 2022, Chinese authorities repatriated over 58,000 individuals involved in telecom scams from the China-Myanmar border region.
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