A new crackdown on online scam centres has led to over 7,000 people from around the world being held in a Myanmar border town awaiting repatriation. Those helping them say the unprecedented number is straining the resources of Thailand just across the border and leading to delays.

The crackdown coordinated among Thailand, Myanmar and China follows Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Beijing this month, where she told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Thailand would act against the scam networks that have drawn in hundreds of thousands of people.

These scam centres in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are hubs for  various forms of online fraud, including romance scams, investment scams and illegal gambling.   Thousands of people from around the world are being trapped and forced to work in these scam centres, lured with false promises of high-paying jobs, only to  be trafficked and held against their will. Many find themselves trapped in virtual slavery. Officials from Thailand, Myanmar and China are expected to meet next week to address the logistics of the crackdown as fears grow about a possible humanitarian crisis. They aim to establish guidelines for repatriations to avoid confusion.

As part of Thailand’s crackdown, it also has cut off electricity, internet and gas supplies to several areas in Myanmar hosting scam centres along the border, citing national security.Amy Miller, who is Southeast Asia director of aid group Acts of Mercy International and is based in Thailand’s Mae Sot on the Myanmar border, told the AP she has never seen such a large-scale release of potential victims of human trafficking. She believes Thai authorities are doing their best, but the task is overwhelming.