Senior officials from Myanmar, China, and Thailand have arrived in Myawaddy in Myanmar to crack down on telecom fraud and illegal online gambling operations, China Media Group reported on Monday, citing Myanmar's State Administration Council's Information Team.
Since the Myanmar authorities launched a crackdown on Myawaddy's scam centers, they have discovered a large number of foreigners illegally entering the country from neighboring nations. Between January 30 and February 16, they have reviewed and detained 1,030 illegal entrants. The joint task force, composed of senior officials from the three countries, is currently verifying identities and conducting detailed investigations to expedite the repatriation process.
Myanmar has already repatriated some of those detained, while efforts are underway to process the remaining individuals in accordance with legal procedures to ensure their swift repatriation to their home countries.
On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and the visiting Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi met with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, and Minister of Home Affairs, Tun Tun Naung, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.
Both sides had in-depth exchange of views on enhancing China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation, and on jointly tackling cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and human trafficking, according to the statement.
When asked to comment on the meeting between Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi and Myanmar's officials, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that recent cases of online gambling and telecom fraud along the Thailand-Myanmar border have posed serious threats to the lives and property of people in affected countries, including China and Thailand, and have disrupted normal regional cooperation and exchanges.
China is actively engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries, implementing comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of online gambling and telecom fraud, Guo said. Efforts are being made to jointly prevent criminals from operating across borders, eradicate the scourge of online gambling and telecom fraud, and protect public safety while ensuring stable regional cooperation, the spokesperson noted.
The foreign ministry will continue working with relevant authorities to guide Chinese embassies and consulates abroad in properly handling related requests for assistance, ensuring the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals overseas, Guo said.
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