Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) reports that some foreign citizens illegally entered Myanmar through border crossings with Thailand and other neighboring countries, engaging in illegal activities such as online gambling and fraud in the Myawaddy-Shwekok region of Kayin State. Based on the cooperation framework of the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge II project, and upholding humanitarian principles and bilateral friendship, Myanmar has legally repatriated 45 illegally entered foreign citizens to their respective countries, including 17 Ethiopians, 16 Ugandans, 11 Filipinos, and 1 Madagascarnian.
To ensure the orderly and efficient handover, Lieutenant Colonel Sang Shwe, a member of the Myawaddy Region Administrative Committee, and relevant officials convened a coordination meeting with various departments to verify the personnel lists and information data one by one, ensuring accuracy and completeness, and making meticulous arrangements for the handover process and security.
The handover ceremony was subsequently held successfully. The ceremony was attended by U Kyaw Kyaw Than, Director of the Immigration and Population Office of Myawaddy Township, Myanmar, along with his accompanying officials; Colonel Neftali Adiya Donato of the Philippine National Police Commissioner's Office; Ms. Kritia Jantanamaraka, representative of the Embassy of Madagascar; Mr. Tana Juda Hira, joint representative of the Embassies of Ethiopia and Uganda; and relevant staff from the Immigration Bureau of Tak Province, Thailand. Myanmar officially handed over all the necessary documents and supporting materials for this repatriation to the representatives of the relevant countries, completing the compliant handover.
It is reported that between January 30, 2025 and January 19, 2026, Myanmar detained 14,151 foreign citizens who illegally entered Myawaddy Township. After a comprehensive investigation and verification, 12,152 of them have been systematically repatriated to their countries of origin through Thai border crossings according to legal procedures. The remaining 1,999 individuals have completed preliminary preparations for repatriation and are currently under proper detention and care, awaiting further transfer.
The Myanmar government stated that it will continue to deepen cooperation with neighboring countries, regional nations, and international organizations, resolutely identifying, arresting, and severely punishing those involved in online fraud and controlling fraud rings. At the same time, it will fully promote humanitarian coordination efforts to ensure the safe return of stranded or trafficked foreign citizens to their home countries as soon as possible, effectively safeguarding border security and regional stability.
