Published on: January 8, 2025, 07:01h.
Last updated on: January 8, 2025, 07:01h.
A well-known Chinese actor, Wang Xing, was tricked into coming to Thailand for a TV shoot but ended up being kidnapped, transported to Myanmar, and forced to work in a fraudulent center within a shady casino town, officials reveal.
Wang, known as Xingxing in the entertainment world, featured in many popular Chinese TV dramas. He was discovered by Myanmar authorities on January 7 and brought back to Thailand for inquiries, following his family’s report of his disappearance three days earlier, according to Thai police statements.
Wang vanished from Mae Sot, a Thai town near the Myanmar border, where he had voluntarily journeyed. He disclosed to Thai police that he was forcibly taken across the border instead of meeting television producers upon arrival.
Rogue Territories
He recounted being taken to a large compound, having his head shaved, and being restricted from leaving. He revealed that there were approximately 50 other laborers from various nationalities with shaven heads within the building. He asserted that he was compelled to engage in a scam call center aimed at Chinese nationals.
Authorities stated that Wang was too afraid to resist. The manner in which he eventually escaped his supposed captors remains unspecified. Initial analysis of communications on Wang’s mobile phone appears to corroborate his narrative, authorities added.
Authorities believe he was taken to Myawaddy, a town five miles beyond the borderline in southeastern Myanmar, which hosts numerous unregulated gambling establishments.
The region has evolved into a hub for Chinese gambling ventures, often housing large-scale deceitful plants tied to triads and organized crime. These entities operate in rogue territories under the supervision of the Myanmar Border Guard Force, composed of former ethnic rebels who have pledged feigned allegiance to the military dictatorship while asserting de facto autonomy in the region.
Triad Regions
Local projects with triad affiliations involve Yatai New City, formed by She Zhijiang, a seasoned illegal gambling operative who evaded Chinese authorities until his detention by Thai border police in August 2022. There is also the Saixigang Industrial Zone, linked to “Broken Tooth” Wan Kuok-koi, an ex-leader of the 14K triad in Macau.
Many individuals engaged in fraudulent activities in the area – and elsewhere in Southeast Asia – are victims of human trafficking.
Wang’s case garnered significant attention in China, gaining traction on social media following his girlfriend’s alert about his disappearance last week. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra mentioned on Tuesday that the government is striving to mitigate any adverse impact it could have on Thailand’s standing as a secure tourist destination.