mounting crack-down on scam centres operating along a porous border. Criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people and forced them to work in illegal online operations generating billions annually across Southeast Asia, especially along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to the United Nations. "After screening the group and verifying their nationalities, it was found that there were 20 nationalities," the Thai army said in a statement, with 138 comprising Ethiopians. Although these illegal operations have been in place for years, Thai authorities renewed efforts last month after Chinese actor Wang Xing was abducted in Thailand, lured on the promise of an acting job. He was later freed by Thai police who found him in Myanmar.