Thailand: Top Border Guards Accused of Myanmar Trafficking Conspiracy
BANGKOK—A complex web of international human trafficking is unraveling in Southeast Asia. Thai authorities are implicating high-ranking members of the Border Guard Force (BGF) in a case involving eight Indian nationals forced into online scam operations in Myanmar. While the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has presented evidence linking BGF leaders to the case, prosecutors are demanding more concrete evidence before issuing arrest warrants. This intricate case highlights the pervasive nature of this criminal enterprise, unfolding amidst a broader Thai crackdown on border-based scam operations.
The BGF officials under scrutiny are Colonel Saw Chit Thu (also known as Col. Maung Chit Thu), Lieutenant Colonel Mote Thone, and Major Tin Win. The DSI presented its findings to anti-trafficking prosecutors on February 11th, but was instructed to strengthen its case before seeking court approval for arrests. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong revealed that this case predates the current intensified crackdown, dating back almost three years.
The victims' ordeal began between May and August 2022. Eight Indian nationals, including Javed Awawasli, were lured to Thailand with promises of lucrative telemarketing jobs. This deceptive recruitment, orchestrated by a Pakistani agent named Sarah and an individual identified only as Edward, brought the victims to Suvarnabhumi Airport. From there, they were transported to Mae Sot district in Tak province—a known human trafficking transit point—and then smuggled across the Moei River into Myanmar. Their destination was the Heng Seng Resort and Casino in Myawaddy, a town notorious for illicit activities.
Instead of legitimate employment, the victims were trapped in horrific conditions. They allegedly suffered physical abuse, electric shocks, and imprisonment for refusing to participate in online scams. Their release was secured only after their families paid ransoms, demonstrating the ruthless exploitation at the heart of this operation.
The investigation has exposed a multinational human trafficking network. Edward and a Chinese national, Xie Xiangde, allegedly forced the victims to work at the casino. Marshall Islands citizen Martin Q. Y. Zhang (also known as Q. Yun Zhang), owner of the Heng Seng Resort and Casino, allegedly coordinated with the Thai company Heng Seng Trading Co., Ltd. to facilitate the victims' transport. Crucially, the DSI presented a property lease contract from June 22, 2017, showing that the BGF’s 4th Brigade, under Colonel Saw Chit Thu’s command, leased the property where the alleged crimes occurred. This directly implicates the BGF, although the organization denies any involvement. Lieutenant Colonel Nay Mong Soe, the BGF’s deputy commander in Myawaddy, dismissed the allegations in an interview, stating the BGF is prepared to cooperate with any nation to repatriate its citizens.
This case coincides with a broader Thai effort to dismantle border-based scam operations. These efforts include disrupting internet signals along the Cambodian border and cutting off essential supplies—electricity, fuel, and internet services—to five suspected scam bases along the Myanmar border.
In a separate but related development illustrating the problem’s scale, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) handed over 260 victims of international scam call centers to Thai authorities on February 12th. This multinational group, from 20 countries, included 138 Ethiopians, 23 Kenyans, and 16 Filipinos, among others. They were transferred at the Thai-Myanmar border to a screening facility for processing and eventual repatriation, highlighting the significant logistical challenges involved in such large-scale rescues. This underscores the urgent need for international collaboration to combat these criminal networks. The ongoing investigation into the BGF’s alleged involvement will likely further expose the depth and complexity of human trafficking in the region and the urgent need for decisive action.
