CHIANG RAI – People in Tachileik, Myanmar, on the border across from Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, say fear is rising again after reports of new kidnappings in town. Local reports say two people have been taken within a single week, and authorities still haven’t found them.
Some residents worry this could mirror the 2023 wave of abductions tied to scam networks, where victims were released only after families paid, and others never returned.
According to Myanmar News reports, multiple abduction cases were reported during the second week of January 2026 in Tachileik, eastern Shan State. The first case involved a 40-year-old woman who was reportedly kidnapped on the morning of January 24 near Shwe The Home Building (San Sai area). Myanmar officials are investigating, but her whereabouts remain unknown.
A second case was reported on January 16 around midday. A man from the San Sai area was reportedly taken from his home by four men.
Tachileik saw several kidnapping incidents in 2023 as well. Reports at the time described different methods, including quiet abductions and armed raids at shops to seize targets.
In other cases, attackers allegedly entered homes or posed as security personnel around the Akha market road before taking people away. Many victims were freed after ransom payments, while some cases ended in death.
Several investigations were linked to online fraud groups, including scammer and call center operations that worked in organized teams.
One resident told reporters that masked men were seen stopping a vehicle and taking someone away. The resident said police were trying to lock down parts of the city to search.
The same person also claimed a man was kidnapped the previous week in the Tonnya field area near the 1G1 hotel, adding that abduction rumors often rise when Chinese gangs appear in town.
The report also noted that ongoing problems connected to scam gangs and call centers have caused pressure along the border for years. Since 2025, Thailand has reportedly suspended exports of fuel, electricity, and internet services to Myanmar at five locations, including Tachileik.
