Thousands detained on Myanmar border after being forced into scamming worldwide. Thousands of sick, exhausted and terrified young men and women, from countries all over the world squat in rows, packed shoulder to shoulder, surgical masks covering their mouths and eyes. Last month, a dramatic and highly publicized operation by Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities led to the release of more than 7,000 people from locked compounds in Myanmar. But survivors have found themselves trapped once again, this time in overcrowded facilities with no medical care, limited food and no idea when they’ll be sent home. The armed groups who are holding the survivors, as well as Thai officials across the border, say they are awaiting action from the detainees’ home governments. It’s one of the largest potential rescues of forced labourers in modern history, but advocates say the first major effort to crack down on the cyber scam industry has turned into a growing humanitarian crisis. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes estimates that between USD 18 billion and USD 37 billion was lost in Asia alone in 2023, with minimal government action against the criminal industry’s spread.