TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Thai police will interview a group of seven Taiwanese freed from a fraud center in Myanmar before returning them to Taiwan, reports said Thursday.
After Thailand cut off the power supply and internet links to a border area known for housing scam rings, the authorities in Myanmar stepped in and freed 260 people from 20 countries. Seven were identified as Taiwanese, Radio Taiwan International reported.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau said it had received their names, but they would only be released and repatriated after background checks. Thai police were investigating whether the 260 foreigners were victims of human trafficking or not.
If they had been forced into working for the fraud rings, they would be sent back to their own country. However, if police found evidence they had been actively involved in the gangs, they would be tried in Thailand.
According to the CIB, one of the Taiwanese might be a fugitive from the law, though his identity still had to be confirmed. Taiwan’s government would assist innocent victims return home.
Despite the absence of diplomatic relations, Taiwan and Thailand have a history of fighting cross-border crime together, including the exchange of suspects in fraud and drug smuggling.