Under bilateral coordination, Myanmar citizens being detained or imprisoned in the jails of China’s provinces are being handed over during the Covid-19 period, and 111 Myanmar citizens were handed over through Nandaw border gate on July 3.

The international cooperation division of the Ruili (Shweli) Police Department of China handed over 111 Myanmar citizens – 56 men and 55 women. The Immigration Department (Muse) accepted them after they had received fever surveillance checks conducted by Muse Public Health Department.

They were detained when working in various provinces. They were charged with the invalidity of border pass, transgression or lack of visa. Some were imprisoned for committing crimes. Among them was a man who was jailed for 17 years for drug charges.

Those handed over underwent health checks in Muse and they would be transported to their respective regions in the evening, according to the transport sub-committee under Muse Township Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Committee.

Chinese authorities allow Myanmar citizens to return home if their border pass is invalid. But those living in China illegally are arrested under the Chinese immigration law. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, around 4,000 Myanmar citizens have been handed over by China.