A trafficking victim from Hong Kong has been rescued from Myanmar after being detained in the country for illegal work, authorities said.
The Security Bureau said Saturday STATEMENT that the Hong Kong resident was rescued from Myanmar and brought to Thailand on Friday after a “joint rescue operation” with the Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, as well as Thai authorities.
Hong Kong authorities arranged for him to meet his family in Thailand once he was in good mental and physical condition, the statement said.
His escape leaves only one other person arrested in the Southeast Asian country who has appealed for help. Since 2024, law enforcement agencies have received 32 requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents allegedly detained in Southeast Asia.
Excluding the case of Saturday, 28 of them have returned to the city. Two others “did not require further assistance or follow-up,” the statement said.
Since a February 2021 military coup in Myanmar that overthrew the country’s democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking armed conflict with ethnic militias, human trafficking has grew upalong with other forms of transnational crime.
In lockstep, fraud complexes have emerged, including along Myanmar’s southern border with Thailand, where trafficked foreign nationals are forced to commit cross-border telecom fraud.
Illegal compounds, many of which are run by Chinese nationals, have grown into a multi-billion dollar industry.
See also: New book tells ‘true stories’ of Hongkongers trafficked to Myanmar scam farms
China has taken action against key members of Myanmar-based fraud syndicates as it increased cooperation with regional governments, including executing four leading members of one union last month and another 11 at the end of January.
‘horror movie’
“The Hong Kong resident said he felt like he was living in a horror movie in recent days and thanked members of the task force who visited Thailand to rescue him from detention,” the statement said, without specifying how long he had been detained in Myanmar.
“Dedicated members of the task force will make arrangements for his return to Hong Kong as soon as possible and will continue to investigate his case after his return,” the statement said.
The bureau expressed its gratitude to parties including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Beijing in Hong Kong, the Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok and other Thai authorities for their assistance.
“The dedicated taskforce will continue to actively follow up on the backlog of aid claims and provide appropriate advice and practical assistance to aid seekers and families,” the statement said.
