Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Bangkok has assisted in the rescue and repatriation of citizens from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan who had fallen victim to human trafficking in Myanmar, the Dunyo news agency reports.

Two Uzbek nationals — M.S. (born 2000) and B.V. (born 1997) — contacted the consulate, revealing they had arrived in Thailand after receiving offers for high-paying online jobs. They were provided with free flight tickets, but upon arrival, were illegally transported to Myanmar. There, they were forced into scam call centers run by criminal groups. Attempts to refuse participation were met with violence and threats, and their release was conditioned on large ransom payments.

A similar fate befell eight citizens of Kyrgyzstan and four of Kazakhstan. Since Kyrgyzstan does not have a diplomatic mission in Thailand, the Uzbek and Kazakh consulates coordinated the repatriation efforts for all affected individuals.

Through joint negotiations with the authorities of Myanmar and Thailand, all victims were freed and transported to the Mae Sot border checkpoint in Thailand, where they received temporary shelter and meals.

On 11 April, with the support of the diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, two Uzbek citizens, four Kazakh citizens, and seven Kyrgyz citizens were successfully repatriated.

This incident highlighted the effectiveness of regional cooperation and brotherhood among Central Asian nations.

The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Bangkok reminds citizens to exercise caution when receiving overseas job offers and to verify the credibility of recruiters. In case of emergency, the consulate can be reached at: +66 2 675 3995.