In a region celebrated for its cultural diversity and economic potential, ASEAN’s visa-free travel policy has long been heralded as a cornerstone of unity and mobility. Yet, for thousands of Indonesians and other nationals, this policy has become a gateway to a nightmare of human trafficking and forced labour in online scam operations. The recent rescue of 84 Indonesians from captivity in Myawaddy, a rebel-controlled town in southeast Myanmar near the Thai border, has exposed the dark underbelly of this well-intentioned initiative. As the number of reported captives rises to 525, according to Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, urgent questions arise: how has a policy meant to foster freedom enabled such exploitation, and what must ASEAN do to reclaim control?
A Policy of Freedom Turned to Chains
The ASEAN visa-free travel arrangement, designed to strengthen regional integration under the ASEAN Community project, allows citizens of member states to move across borders with minimal bureaucratic hurdles. For many, it’s a symbol of trust and cooperation. But for criminal syndicates operating in the shadows, it’s an opportunity. Lured by promises of lucrative tech jobs advertised online, hundreds of Indonesians have fallen victim to trafficking networks that exploit this ease of movement. Their journey often begins with a flight to Thailand, followed by a long drive—unbeknownst to them, across the border into Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Myawaddy township in Karen state.
Upon arrival, their passports are confiscated, and the reality of their situation emerges. Held in dark, cramped rooms with little food or water, they are forced to operate online scams targeting their own compatriots back home. Failure to meet quotas results in harsh punishment, including physical abuse. This is not the stereotypical image of migrant worker exploitation; among the victims are educated, computer-literate individuals, including a former member of the Sukabumi legislative council in West Java. Desperate for better job prospects than those available in Indonesia, they take risks that lead them into modern slavery. 
The scale of the problem is staggering. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry recently revised its estimate of captives in Myawaddy from 366 to 525, acknowledging that the true number may be even higher due to the difficulty of gathering data amidst Myanmar’s ongoing civil war. Indonesians are not alone in their plight—stories from escapees reveal that Chinese nationals and others are also ensnared in these operations, though Indonesians appear to form one of the largest groups. The multibillion-dollar industry behind these scams extends beyond Myanmar to Cambodia and Laos, with recent Indonesian crackdowns on online gambling tracing operations back to these regions.
The Mechanics of Deception
The trafficking syndicates employ sophisticated recruitment tactics, often using a “member gets member” strategy. Rather than offering bonuses, they wield threats to coerce victims into luring friends and relatives into the same trap. The journey from hope to horror is meticulously orchestrated: victims are picked up at Thai airports, driven for hours, and delivered into captivity without realising they’ve crossed an international border. Once in Myawaddy, they are trapped not only by physical confinement but by the chaos of a region where the Karen rebels battle Myanmar’s military junta. While the Myanmar government has offered limited assistance in rescues, most support has come from Thailand, which shares a border with Myawaddy via the town of Maesot across the Moei River.
The scams themselves are diverse, ranging from financial fraud to online gambling schemes. Victims are forced to meet daily quotas, contacting potential targets under duress while enduring conditions that strip them of dignity and autonomy. This high-tech slavery stands in stark contrast to the ASEAN vision of a connected, prosperous region, revealing how criminal networks have weaponised the very policies meant to empower citizens.
A Regional Failure to Act
The joint operation by Thai and Indonesian authorities to free 84 captives last month is a commendable step, but it addresses only a fraction of the crisis. The absence of a coordinated ASEAN response to tackle the root causes—namely, preventing citizens from falling into these traps in the first place—is glaring. While individual governments grapple with rescues and repatriation, there is little evidence of collective action to dismantle the trafficking networks exploiting the visa-free policy. Critics argue that ASEAN’s slow, consensus-driven approach—often dubbed the “ASEAN Way”—is ill-suited to a crisis where lives and dignity are at stake.
The visa-free policy itself is not the sole culprit; it is a tool that has been perverted by criminals. Scrapping it would be neither practical nor desirable, as it remains a vital lifeline for legitimate travellers and economic migrants. Instead, the challenge lies in fortifying regional cooperation to combat trafficking without undermining the freedoms the policy was designed to protect. This requires a multi-pronged approach: stricter border monitoring, public awareness campaigns about online job scams, and crackdowns on the digital infrastructure that enables these operations.
Conditional Pathways Forward
If ASEAN governments can align on a unified strategy, there is potential to curb the trafficking epidemic. Enhanced data-sharing between member states could help track missing persons and identify trafficking hotspots, while joint task forces might disrupt the syndicates’ cross-border operations. However, such measures remain speculative; there is no confirmed commitment from ASEAN leaders to prioritise this issue at a regional level. Without evidence of political will, these ideas risk remaining theoretical, leaving victims to bear the consequences of inaction.
Moreover, the economic disparities driving individuals to seek work abroad must be addressed. If job prospects in countries like Indonesia remain bleak, citizens will continue to take risks, even in the face of known dangers. Regional initiatives to boost employment and vocational training could reduce vulnerability, though such reforms would require long-term investment and coordination—elements often lacking in ASEAN’s policy framework.
The Human Cost of Delay
The stories emerging from Myawaddy are a stark reminder of the human cost of this crisis. Beyond the physical toll of captivity and abuse, victims face profound psychological trauma, often compounded by the shame of having unwittingly deceived loved ones into similar traps. For every person rescued, hundreds remain in limbo, their fates uncertain amidst Myanmar’s instability. The international community, including ASEAN’s dialogue partners, must also play a role in pressuring for action, as the reputational damage to the region grows with each passing day.
Thailand’s assistance in recent rescues highlights the potential for bilateral cooperation, but it also underscores the limitations of piecemeal efforts. Myawaddy’s location in a conflict zone complicates matters further, as humanitarian access is restricted and local authorities—whether rebel or junta-aligned—lack the capacity or incentive to prioritise foreign victims. ASEAN must navigate these geopolitical challenges with urgency, recognising that its credibility as a regional bloc hinges on its ability to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
A Call for Accountability
The visa-free policy was envisioned as a bridge between ASEAN nations, fostering mutual understanding and economic growth. Yet, it has also become a conduit for exploitation, revealing systemic gaps in oversight and enforcement. The onus is on ASEAN governments, individually and collectively, to reclaim the narrative. This is not a problem that can wait for consensus or gradual reform; it demands immediate, decisive action.
As the number of captives in Myawaddy and beyond continues to climb, the stakes could not be higher. If ASEAN fails to act, it risks not only the lives of its citizens but the integrity of its founding principles. The freedom to move should never come at the cost of freedom itself. For the thousands still trapped in modern slavery, the time for change is now.
