TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working with Indonesian embassies in Yangon and Bangkok, has repatriated 90 Indonesian citizens who were trapped in online scam operations along the Myanmar-Thailand border.
According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry cited by Antara, the group arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday morning, January 22, 2026, at around 05:30 AM.
Upon arrival, they were handed over to relevant authorities for further assistance and processing in line with established procedures.
The repatriation is part of the Indonesian government’s ongoing response to enforcement operations by Myanmar authorities targeting online scam and illegal gambling centers in the Myawaddy area.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said a total of 230 Indonesian citizens remain in the repatriation process, which is being carried out in stages.
Priority is currently being given to those who have confirmed their readiness to cover the cost of their return flights independently.
Earlier repatriation efforts were conducted in December 2025. In the first wave, 56 Indonesians were evacuated from Myawaddy on December 8 via the Myanmar–Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 2 and received by the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok in Mae Sot, Thailand.
They later flew to Jakarta via Bangkok on December 9. A second wave saw 54 Indonesians return home on December 13, 2025.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated its appeal for Indonesian migrant workers to follow official recruitment procedures and comply with regulations both in Indonesia and in destination countries to avoid falling victim to exploitation.
Situation in Cambodia
Separately, Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said that 1,726 Indonesian citizens have reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh after escaping online scam syndicates operating in various parts of Cambodia.
Speaking at a virtual press conference hosted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, Santo said preliminary assessments found no indication that those who reported were victims of human trafficking crimes.
“Based on our initial assessment, none of the Indonesian citizens showed signs of being victims of human trafficking or physical violence,” Santo said.
He explained that between January 16 and 21, a total of 1,726 Indonesians arrived at the embassy seeking assistance.
Most were found to be in generally good physical condition, though some were experiencing fatigue, stress, or trauma following long journeys to reach the embassy.
“Some are stressed, some are exhausted, and some are traumatized. Each person has different reasons for their trauma,” Santo said.
Those requiring medical attention, including individuals who fainted or suffered from dehydration, were referred to health facilities for treatment. The remaining individuals have been accommodated at guesthouses around Phnom Penh while further arrangements are made.
“All of them have now been placed in guesthouses in the Phnom Penh area,” Santo said.
