Thai police rescue two Japanese men from Myanmar fraud base

Thai police have rescued two Japanese men in their 20s in the Kanchanaburi province, near the Myanmar border. The men are believed to be victims of human trafficking who were forced to participate in fraudulent activities.

According to investigators, the men traveled to Thailand after responding to social media advertisements for high-paying jobs. They were subsequently handed over to a fraud group via a broker. While stationed at a base in Myanmar, they were allegedly coerced into making scam phone calls to elderly citizens in Japan by impersonating police officers. The men reported being threatened that their relatives would be harmed if they refused to comply.

The rescue was a collaborative effort between Thai police and the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok, initiated after the men contacted relatives for help by telephone. The men are believed to have been held at the fraud base for approximately 20 days. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case and are looking into whether other Japanese nationals remain at the fraud base.