Myanmar's military says it has deported about 56,000 people to their respective countries and territories. It says many of them are suspected of having been involved in online scams and online gambling.

The junta says it sent back 55,711 foreign nationals between October 5, 2023 and January 13, 2025. It says more than 53,300 of them were Chinese nationals. That figure represents over 90 percent of the total.

The junta says those repatriated were from 29 countries and two territories in Asia, Europe and Africa. There were no Japanese nationals among them.

A Chinese actor went missing in a Thai town bordering Myanmar earlier this month. Thai authorities later located him in Myanmar and brought him back to Thailand. He had a shaven head when he was found.

A Thai civil group says it is possible that more than 6,000 individuals from 21 countries were being held captive in Myanmar as of January 7.

Experts say there are scam centers in Myanmar, which has been in turmoil since the military grabbed power in a coup in 2021.

The military appears to be touting the deportations as an achievement. The move comes amid growing international calls for it to tackle crimes committed from Myanmar.

Authorities in Thailand and China, both of which border Myanmar, have also been increasing their vigilance and taking countermeasures against such criminal activities.