Kenya’s government has repatriated 119 of its nationals rescued from illegal employment scam compounds in Myanmar, with hundreds more reportedly still stuck in shelters and detention facilities.
The victims were caught up in a network of fraud hubs that have flourished in Myanmar’s Karen State near Thailand, where trafficked workers from several countries have been forced to run online fraud schemes after being lured by fake job offers, according to officials.
In a statement on Monday, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry said raids by the Myanmar government in September that involved arrests, seizures, bombings, and demolitions at “the scam compounds” left the workers stranded.
“The criminal elements operating the camps fled, abandoning workers – including over 200 Kenyans – who sought refuge in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while another group of over 100 Kenyans crossed over to Thailand,” the ministry stated.