Nearly 500 Indians are currently detained in Thailand after fleeing from a notorious cybercrime hub in Myanmar, known as KK Park. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has confirmed that it is actively working to repatriate these nationals. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We are aware of Indian nationals who have been detained by Thai authorities. They had crossed into Thailand from Myanmar over the past few days. Our Mission in Thailand is working closely with Thai authorities to verify their nationality and to repatriate them, after necessary legal formalities are completed in Thailand."

The situation arose following a crackdown by the Myanmar military on the KK Park compound, which is infamous for running international cyber scams. This operation prompted many foreign workers, including Indians, to flee into Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned that India plans to send a plane to bring back its citizens directly from Mae Sot, a town near the border.

Reports indicate that around 700 workers escaped the compound during the raid, with Thai authorities detaining many of them upon their arrival. As of now, over 1,500 individuals from various countries, including India, China, and Nepal, have crossed into Thailand since the military operation began.

The KK Park facility is linked to Chinese criminal syndicates and has been a focal point for human trafficking and cyber fraud, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations has highlighted that billions of dollars have been generated through forced labour in these regions, with many victims exploited by organized crime networks.

This is not the first instance of India repatriating its citizens from such situations. Earlier this year, India successfully brought back 549 nationals who were rescued from similar scam centres along the Myanmar-Thailand border. The Indian government is now coordinating with Thai authorities to expedite the repatriation process for the nearly 500 detained Indians.