Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) On March 11, Myanmar lawfully repatriated 73 foreign citizens who had illegally entered the country to engage in criminal activities. These individuals had previously transited through neighboring countries such as Thailand, illegally entering the Myawaddy-Ryekko district of Kayin State to participate in online gambling, telecommunications fraud, and other crimes.
This repatriation included 55 Vietnamese, 5 Kenyans, 4 Sierra Leoneans, 3 Nepalese, and 1 each from Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Liberia. They were transferred to their respective national authorities via the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 2, a process that fully considered humanitarian principles and bilateral friendly relations. The Myawaddy District Administrative Committee and the regional immigration department coordinated the process, with representatives from various embassies in Thailand and officials from the Tak Provincial Immigration Bureau in Thailand attending the handover ceremony. Myanmar completed the document handover according to legal procedures.
Simultaneous reports indicate that another 8 foreign citizens (including 2 Pakistanis, 2 Rwandans, 2 Kenyans, 1 Nepalese, and 1 Burundian) who illegally entered the area surrounding Myawaddy have been detained and their identities are being verified. They will be repatriated according to law.
Statistics show that between January 30, 2025, and March 10, 2026, Myanmar detained 14,393 foreign citizens who illegally entered Myawaddy. Of these, 13,335 have been repatriated via Thailand, and the remaining 1,058 have completed identity verification and are being properly resettled awaiting transfer. It is noteworthy that among those awaiting transfer, 25 Chinese citizens will be prosecuted on March 7th for violating entry visa regulations, in accordance with relevant provisions of the 1947 Myanmar Immigration (Emergency Regulations) Law.
Myanmar stated that it is actively working with neighboring countries, regional nations, and international organizations to continuously combat transnational online fraud and related criminal chains, rigorously pursuing the legal responsibility of those involved, while simultaneously protecting the legitimate rights and interests of victims of human trafficking and other distressed foreign citizens, and facilitating their rapid return home. (End)
