You are somewhat mistaken though. The world knows. But the average Thais do not know all the story. My Thai wife thinks these were illegals who entered for finding work and started working in phone scams.. This is the type of news being fed in Thai language and the rumors spread in social media. She had thought these people were all scammers for many years caught and supported by the Thai Gov while waiting in prisons to finishe their sentences for their crimes and now they were sent back to their country. These are the types of lies being fed to the locals.
When i told my wife the truth, she was shocked and appalled.