A Reuters investigation examines the cases of tourists kidnapped in Thailand to supply call centers in Myanmar.
The investigation is based on several months of interviews with nine people from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia who were trafficked to fraud centers in Myanmar between 2022 and 2025.
Thousands of victims, lured by various means, transit through Thailand before being forcibly sent to fortified camps in Burma.
The Reuters report shows that victims are identified upon arrival in Thailand and then guided by several people who have uniforms and access to designated travel areas.
Several testimonies clearly point to the complicity of Thai officials , particularly in the immigration services .
Updated September 21, 2025 :
Tourist Kidnappings in Thailand: Immigration Accused, She Denies
Then the victims are driven from Thai airports to the Burmese border to join forced labor camps described as hell on Earth .
A booming criminal industry
Illustration showing a call center in Myanmar located near the border with Thailand. Drawing: Reuters
A criminal industry of online scams has flourished in Myanmar's border areas, beyond the control of the central state.
These call centers are also proliferating in Cambodia, with, according to numerous international reports, the complicity of the ruling elite.
See our latest article on this subject: Thailand: The rise of the baht linked to gold exports to Cambodia
Thousands of people from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia are either recruited through fake job offers, lured by people they meet on social media, or simply deceived and kidnapped upon arrival in Thailand.
See: Thailand: Tourists narrowly escape forced labor in Burma
Once in Burma, they are held captive in fortified camps run by Chinese gangs and protected by local militias.
Their mission: to scam Internet users around the world, particularly through fake financial investments, and if they refuse, they are tortured.
Thailand, gateway to trafficking
Illustration showing call center victims being accosted upon arrival at Thailand's airports. Drawing: Reuters
One of the most concerning elements highlighted by the Reuters investigation is Thailand's role as a transit hub.
Many victims pass through Bangkok's airports.
Several foreign diplomats say this would not be possible without the complicity of certain Thai officials , particularly in immigration.
Of the nine people Reuters spoke to, all but one were lured by promises of well-paying jobs.
Six of them said they were escorted through Bangkok's two international airports by suspected immigration officials before being driven to Myanmar.
Lindsay Kiptiness, Kenya's ambassador to Thailand, who has helped rescue hundreds of its citizens from scam centers, told Reuters they described being routinely escorted through Thai airports by officials .
Kiptiness said he provided Thai authorities with detailed information about the kidnappings but received no follow-up.
A spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry said they had not received any reports of the allegations, but were ready to investigate any “credible information or evidence.”
A 27-year-old Indonesian man who traveled through Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport in January said his recruiter asked him via the messaging app Telegram to send a photo of his outfit so immigration officers could remove him from the line.
See also: Scandal in Thailand: 2 generals linked to Burmese call centers
Thailand's Immigration Ministry and Airports of Thailand – the state-owned company that operates the country's largest airports – did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on allegations that officials were involved in trafficking.
Inhumane conditions in fortified camps
Illustrations showing a fortified camp that houses a call center and the sleeping quarters of kidnapped people. Reuters images
Once in Burma, the victims are locked up in fortified camps such as KK Park.
Living conditions there are described as inhuman:
- endless working days,
- physical violence and threats,
- torture for those who refuse to obey.
Under duress, they are forced to seduce victims online, sometimes through fake romantic relationships, and push them to invest in fraudulent investments.
See: How call centers ruin vulnerable people in Thailand?
Thailand had to react to save its tourism
Poster for the Chinese film "No More Bets," which portrays Thailand as a hub for human trafficking.
For years, Thailand did nothing about these Burmese call centers.
The kingdom was content to obtain the release of people kidnapped by these networks when they were highlighted in the media or on social networks.
It is clear that those responsible had well-established contacts with the kidnappers, who released the designated individuals, but it is not known whether a ransom was paid or not.
Then in August 2023, a film on this subject was released in China and was a huge success in Asia, damaging Thai tourism.
See: How a Chinese film instills fear of traveling to Thailand
But the worst happened for tourism in Thailand when a Chinese actor was kidnapped in January 2025.
See: Disturbing disappearance of a Chinese film star in Thailand
The case caused a stir on Chinese social media and was followed by several other high-profile kidnappings, creating fear of traveling to Thailand.
See: Another Chinese man kidnapped in Thailand has been freed from the hell of Burmese call centers
The actor and other victims were quickly released after Thailand's requests, but the damage was done.
See: Thailand releases Chinese actor kidnapped in Burma
Then, faced with a significant drop in Chinese travelers and pressure from China, Thailand finally launched a fight against Burmese call centers.
See: Under pressure from China, Thailand finally tackles call centers
But even today, tourism is still being hit hard by the decline in Chinese travelers, mainly due to these kidnappings.
See: Thailand: Tourism collapses as Chinese visitors fall
The kingdom also made a late move to crack down on call centers in Cambodia after a diplomatic rift with Cambodian leaders.
See: Fraudulent call centers: Thailand blames Cambodian elite
A toxic alliance that thrives
Burmese call center. Illustration: Reuters
According to the UN, hundreds of thousands of people have been trapped in these centers since 2020.
The system thrives on an alliance between transnational criminal groups, armed local militias and corrupt officials.
Despite some international operations, the networks remain very active.
See: Thailand: New kidnapping of Chinese by Burmese call centers
For Thailand, since airports are full of cameras, it would not be difficult to find and arrest the accomplices of this trafficking, if the authorities had the will...
- Tourists and foreign workers kidnapped in Thailand are forcibly sent to fraud centers in Burma.
- Several testimonies denounce the complicity of Thai officials , particularly in immigration.
- The victims are being held in fortified camps controlled by Chinese gangs and local militias.
- According to the UN, hundreds of thousands of people have been trapped since 2020.
We strongly recommend that you read the very detailed Reuters , accompanied by numerous illustrations, which describes the hell experienced by the victims of these call centers (in English).
See also:
Thailand has paralyzed criminal call centers in Myanmar
Thailand: 7,000 victims freed from the hell of Burmese call centers
Thailand: Tougher penalties for accomplices in fraudulent call centers
Thailand – Cambodia: Civilians sacrificed to protect call centers?
Horror of call centers in Cambodia: kidnapping, torture, rape
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3 comments
I read the Reuters document... enlightening!!!
If Thailand remains inactive and does not implement the necessary means effectively to identify the corrupt Thai officials who "work" for this mafia network in Thai international airports and, secondly, to eradicate this mafia in the long term, it will make itself eternally complicit with these traffickers of human flesh, modern-day slavers in the pay of some of the political authorities, mafia leaders and senior officials of the various levels of power within the States of Myanmar and Cambodia...
Click on “Reuters” in blue in the article and share this link on social networks… it must go around the world!!!
If you are interested, here is a series that is edifying:
( Moderation: link refused ): triads-the-chinese-mafia
You have to know how to download a little... but it's very interesting.
In the last episode, they explain the problem of Cambodia.
What corruption at all levels.
I think it's part of a mindset.
Votes, police, administration, the population not respecting the rules, the simple pollution of throwing rubbish that litters the beaches, cigarette butts, excessive speed, bars, widespread but hidden prostitution.
This is why tourists no longer come to Thailand.
The land of smiles hides all this misery.
He needs to educate people, English is not mastered by 90% of the population.
A system that is falling behind schedule and is costly.
Perhaps beliefs and other regressions are a big part of this situation.
This is a mentality that needs to change and that requires a slightly smarter television.