Authorities have identified 681 Vietnamese citizens from 56 provinces and cities as victims of human trafficking, now being expelled from Myanmar. The Consular Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), in coordination with other ministries and local authorities, is urgently working on a repatriation plan.

Recently, Myanmar authorities, in cooperation with Thai police and other nations, launched large-scale raids on illegal online gambling operations along the border. These campaigns uncovered tens of thousands of foreigners residing illegally, many coerced into online scams, forced labor, and human trafficking.

Myawaddy Town, located in Karen State in southeastern Myanmar and separated from Thailand’s Mae Sot by the Moei River, is a major trading hub and a hotspot for gambling and illicit activities.

Luong Thanh Quang, Deputy Director of the Consular Department, stated that Myanmar had informed Vietnam of the expulsions, prompting immediate planning for citizen repatriation.

However, due to the volatile security situation in Myanmar, traveling from Yangon (where the Vietnamese Embassy is based) to Myawaddy is not feasible, complicating efforts to safely return the citizens.

"As the number of affected citizens rises daily from 200 to 400 and now over 600, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working closely with the Ministry of Public Security to rapidly verify identities. So far, 681 individuals from 56 localities have been confirmed, including residents of modern urban areas where warnings about 'easy jobs with high pay' are regularly broadcast," said Quang.

Myanmar authorities classify these individuals as violators of local laws and have requested Vietnam to take them back.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consulted with the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defense, along with provincial authorities, who all agree there is no legal basis yet to confirm these citizens as victims of trafficking. Those deceived into working in Myanmar may file a report with local police upon return. If classified as trafficking victims after investigation, they will be eligible for financial support as per current regulations.

Quang explained that the only viable repatriation route is via overland passage through Thailand. This requires trilateral coordination among Myanmar (expelling country), Thailand (transit country), and Vietnam (receiving country), with agreed timelines and detailed operational plans.

He emphasized that time and security are top priorities. Thailand only permits a limited number of people to transit each day, under tight police supervision.

The final plan involves transporting the citizens by land from Myawaddy into Mae Sot, then by bus nearly 500 km to Bangkok. From there, they will board commercial flights to Vietnam. The entire journey takes around 20 hours and will be closely monitored by security forces to prevent illegal stays or disturbances in Thailand.

The estimated cost per person is 12.2 million VND (approximately 480 USD), covering ground transport, food, commercial airfare, and document issuance.

The Citizen Protection Fund has notified local authorities to request advance payments from families. Once funds are received, the Fund will coordinate with Vietnamese embassies to arrange transport, flight tickets, and necessary travel documents.

After repatriation, embassies will submit receipts and documentation to the Fund, which will reconcile actual expenses. Any excess will be refunded or families will be asked to cover any shortfall, ensuring transparency.

"We urge Vietnamese citizens in Myanmar to beware of fake news and scams exploiting this repatriation effort," Quang warned.

He affirmed that this process is transparent and monitored by local authorities in the citizens' hometowns.

On April 8, April 28, and May 14, three repatriation groups totaling 471 citizens returned safely and orderly to Vietnam. These early efforts are critical milestones as Vietnam aims to repatriate all citizens stranded in Myawaddy this May.

Citizens needing clarification on procedures or costs can contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or their local foreign affairs office.

Tran Thuong