A Chinese actor, who disappeared following a trip to Thailand, was found near the Myanmar border, an area known for online scam operations. Thai police confirmed on Wednesday, January 8, that he is a victim of human trafficking.
The Global Times, a state-owned Chinese newspaper, reported on Monday that Wang Xing’s family sought assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand following his disappearance at the Thailand-Myanmar border.
On Tuesday, authorities located Wang in Myanmar and transferred him back to Thailand for interrogation, as confirmed by Thai police. Visual evidence, including photos and videos, depicted Wang seated alongside police in Mae Sot, a Thai border town, with his head shaved.
Wang told the police how he was deceived by the prospect of a casting job offered by a prominent Thai entertainment firm.
However, he was instead smuggled into Myanmar, where he was believed to have been forced into participating in a call scam operation targeting Chinese nationals, explained Senior Inspector General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot.
The region is notorious as a hub for criminal groups that force countless individuals across Southeast Asia into engaging in online scams.
These scams range from fake romantic entanglements to fraudulent investment opportunities and illicit gambling activities, leaving many victims in a state of virtual slavery. Additionally, there are allegations of drug trafficking.
Senior Inspector General Thatchai confirmed Wang’s account after examining chat logs on his phone, as reported to Thai PBS TV.
Wang also shared with the police that approximately 50 other Chinese nationals were at the same site, all of whom had their heads shaved like him. He admitted his fear was too overwhelming to resist or attempt an escape.
The border regions of military-controlled Myanmar have long been breeding grounds for criminal activities, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts between ethnic armed groups and the national army.
Chinese authorities have reported cracking down on criminal syndicates in collaboration with neighboring countries, resulting in thousands being repatriated to China. However, these campaigns have not led to the arrest of ring leaders in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Chinese investors run casino complexes in areas that function as autonomous development zones, in partnership with Myanmar’s Border Guard Force—a militia affiliated with the ethnic Karen minority.
The case of Wang’s disappearance garnered significant online attention after a purported girlfriend shared the ordeal on Chinese social media, as noted by The Global Times. Wang is known for his roles in popular Chinese television series.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra asserted on Tuesday that the government is actively striving to minimize any potential damage this incident could cause to Thailand’s reputation as a safe destination for tourists.
