The request was made to China during a trilateral meeting between Thailand, Myanmar and China to hand over 30,000 Chinese nationals who are still working in the tiger farming industry along the Thai-Myanmar border, Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nai Maung Zaw told the BBC.
China made the request to Myanmar during a meeting on July 7 between the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Group led by the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Public Security, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Military Council and officials from the Thai Immigration Department at the border.
The 30,000 people are being asked to hand over tiger farming industries in Myawaddy, Mae Htaw Tha Lay, as well as in Myawaddy Township, such as KK Park and Shwe Kuk Ko, where tiger farming is widespread, BGF Lieutenant Colonel Nai Maung Zaw said.
The military council discussed how to crack down on online money laundering in the Myawaddy region and facilitate the extradition of those involved in the activities to China, the state-run newspaper reported on July 8.
However, the military council did not mention in the newspaper that it discussed the extradition of 30,000 Chinese nationals involved in the smuggling of tigers to China.
On the other hand, the military council identified 9,198 foreigners, including Chinese nationals, who had entered Myanmar illegally and were involved in the smuggling of tigers in the first six months of 2025, the newspaper reported, and deported more than 8,900.
The BGF told the BBC that nearly 6,000 Chinese nationals were among the foreigners deported in connection with the smuggling of tigers.