January 20, 2025
YANGON – Twelve people have been arrested in connection with a criminal gang that lured Chinese actors, models, and film crews into online fraud operations in Myawaddy, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
Recently, the disappearance and entrapment of many Chinese nationals, including actor Wang and fire artist Sun Chen, after they were fraudulently taken to the Thai-Myanmar border, has attracted the attention of the public. The Ministry of Public Security of China has attached great importance to these incidents and has quickly deployed relevant local public security organizations to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the situation of those who have been lost contact and are stranded abroad, and has also investigated with relevant departments such as embassies and consulates abroad, the report said.
At present, six people, including actors Wang and Sun Chen, have been successfully rescued and safely returned to China, and the rest are being rescued and investigated, the report continued, citing the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
Chinese actor Wang was sent to Bangkok, Thailand on December 29 to find a job invitation to shoot a video. According to the invitation, he contacted the WeChat account of the second director, “Yang Siluo ,” and negotiated a trip to Bangkok, Thailand to film. On the morning of January 3, Wang arrived at Bangkok Airport, Thailand , and took a car arranged by “Yang Siluo .” He was taken to the “Apolo Park ” zone in Myawaddy, Myanmar, via the Thai-Myanmar border. He was then sold to several other fake communication zones, such as “Huanrao ” and “Khaing Xuan ,” Xinhua reported.
During the rescue operation, the investigation revealed that a criminal gang hiding in Myawaddy, Myanmar, was engaged in cross-border human trafficking. Since December 2024, the criminal gang has been posting fake information on various chat groups, claiming to be actors, models, and film crew members, and has been fraudulently bringing these people into Thailand by buying plane tickets, booking hotels, and arranging cars for those who wish to come. After that, they are then transported to Myawaddy, Myanmar, and trafficked to communication fraud zones.
The news report further states that recent cases of people being cut off from contact and trapped abroad are related to this criminal gang. The Chinese and Thai police have already jointly arrested 12 suspects suspected of committing crimes at home and abroad, and are investigating the relevant cases and pursuing suspects suspected of committing other crimes.