KATHMANDU: Thirteen Nepali nationals have been rescued from the clutches of a Chinese criminal group operating in Myanmar.

These individuals, who were forcibly engaged in digital crimes and fraud in rural villages of Myanmar, were successfully rescued and repatriated to Nepal on Friday.

The rescue operation was a collaborative effort between the Embassy of Nepal in Thailand and Myanmar authorities.

Ambassador of Nepal for Thailand, Dhan Bahadur Oli, confirmed that the Nepali nationals were handed over to Nepali authorities by the Myanmar police after their rescue.

According to Harischandra Ghimire, the rescued Nepali nationals were coerced into participating in digital fraud within the territory controlled by the rebel group in Myanmar.

Ghimire stated that due to restricted access to the area, the embassy lacked precise data on the total number of Nepali nationals present there, and government officials were unable to visit.

The rescued individuals disclosed that they had been promised a false monthly salary of Rs 150,000 but were instead subjected to grueling work hours of 16 to 18 hours daily under strict supervision.

Agents operating in the area created fake social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, and various dating apps for them. The victims were then compelled to conduct fraudulent activities online using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

According to the rescued Nepali citizens, there are still hundreds of Nepalis, along with citizens from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Poland, currently employed in similar conditions in the area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal acknowledged the lack of precise data on the number of Nepali nationals working in Myanmar.

It has been revealed that those who arrived in the area were subjected to physical and mental abuse, captivity, and sometimes deprived of food if they failed to comply with the instructions of the Chinese criminal group.