Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a coordinated operation, 197 Indian nationals were repatriated from Mae Sot, Thailand back to India via two special flights operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday. These nationals were rescued after being detained in Thailand for illegally entering the country from Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they were reportedly working in cyber scam centres.
The Indian Embassy in Thailand played a key role in facilitating this repatriation, collaborating closely with the Royal Thai Government agencies. The operation was overseen by Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited Mae Sot to monitor the process. Indian Ambassador to Thailand Nagesh Singh met the Prime Minister at the airport, where both sides expressed their appreciation for the joint efforts.
The Embassy highlighted Thailand’s deep gratitude towards the Government of India for the swift repatriation of detainees and assured ongoing cooperation in handling such cases. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating transnational crimes including cyber scams and human trafficking. Enhanced cooperation among relevant agencies in India and Thailand was pledged to prevent these crimes in the future.
The Indian nationals were detained due to violations of Thai immigration laws after crossing illegally from Myanmar. The Embassy issued a strong advisory to Indian citizens to verify credentials of foreign employers and check recruitment companies thoroughly before accepting overseas job offers. They also emphasized that visa-free entry into Thailand is strictly for tourism and short business visits, and misuse for employment is prohibited.
