TAK:Thirty-two Indonesian nationals, 30 men and two women, have been caught fleeing from neighbouring Myanmar into Thailand through a border area in Mae Sot district and detained for questioning.

Thai authorities detained 32 Indonesian nationals early Sunday morning as they attempted to cross the Myanmar-Thailand border illegally into Tak Province.

Model Yang Zeqi, who had been missing for nearly a month after arriving in Thailand in late December, has been found safe and returned to China.

Wang Xing was living in fear. His head had been shaved. He couldn’t sleep and was in a strange place where his captors were forcing him to type – the first phase of training for an unwanted role.

Chinese travellers have been scrapping trips to Thailand, frightened by the story of a Chinese actor who was abducted there and taken to Myanmar and forced to work in an online scam compound.

Chinese actor Wang Xing (right) talks with Thai police officers after returning to Thailand in Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand, on January 7, 2025. Photo: VCG. Representa

Chinese model Yang Zeqi, who was reported missing in Thailand, has safely returned to China. His disappearance sparked widespread concern.

Authorities in Thailand are making concerted efforts to strengthen border security to prevent human trafficking gangs from using the country as a transit point.

Thai police previously reported that Wang Xing had been lured into Myanmar by fraud groups and had lost contact with his friends and family near the border between the two Southeast Asian nations

He stressed that Thailand itself doesn't have a problem with human trafficking. "Thailand is still safe. The only concern for us is that the criminals use Thailand as a transit country," he said, adding that a multisector meeting will be held soon to find ways to help prevent travelers from becoming victims of human trafficking.

Yang Zeqi's father fears he could have been abducted and forced to work with a call centre gang. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In a joint operation, the Ratchamanu Task Force, police, and administrative officers detained 32 Indonesian nationals attempting to illegally cross the border into Thailand.