TMTPOST – A 25-year-old Hong Kong resident, identified as Ren Wei (pseudonym), was rescued and returned to Hong Kong after being trafficked to a scam compound in Myanmar. Ren was lured to Thailand in October 2024 and subsequently trafficked to Myanmar, where he was forced to engage in online fraud through social media platforms. Ren endured 17-hour workdays and suffered severe physical abuse and starvation for failing to meet the syndicate's fraudulent “targets.” The case is one of 12 incidents involving Hong Kong residents trafficked to scam operations in Myanmar via Thailand. Hong Kong’s Deputy Secretary for Security, Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, recently led a task force to Thailand to address these cases. According to Acting Senior Superintendent Cheung Ting-fung of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, Ren’s rescue was fraught with challenges and delays. The Security Bureau’s specialized team will continue supporting Ren’s recovery and investigate the circumstances of his trafficking. Authorities are also working to combat similar cross-border crimes to prevent further incidents.