Indonesia has begun repatriating 554 of its nationals who were rescued from online scam operations in Myanmar, officials announced Tuesday. These individuals had been lured by fraudulent job offers and then forced to participate in online scams under threats and violence, including beatings and electrocution.
The victims, comprising 449 men and 105 women, were rescued from Myawaddy, a border town near Thailand. They were transported through Thailand, with 400 returning to Indonesia on Tuesday and the remaining 154 expected on Wednesday, according to Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
Indonesia had previously repatriated 140 citizens last month. Since 2020, over 4,700 Indonesians have been rescued from similar operations across Southeast Asia, according to foreign ministry data.
