Kenyans Trafficked to Myanmar: A Concern for Job Seekers and Government Efforts
Kenya’s ambassador to Thailand has reported the trafficking of young Kenyans to Myanmar, where they are coerced into online scams. The government has rescued over 150 individuals and is working to help an additional 45. Authorities advise job seekers to verify job offers through the embassy to avoid falling victim to trafficking schemes.
Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand, has revealed that Kenyans, particularly those aged 19 to 35 and mostly university graduates, are being trafficked to Myanmar to engage in online scams. They typically enter Myanmar via Thailand, where armed men escort them to scam compounds, subjecting them to a rigorous ten-day training in fraudulent practices aimed largely at Western victims, especially in the United States.
The ambassador disclosed that these incidents primarily involve young job seekers aged between 13 to 35, many of whom possess qualifications. Upon arrival at the compounds, they are greeted by armed personnel and equipped with mobile devices to execute scams, including cryptocurrency fraud. Kiptiness has identified areas in Kenya such as North Rift, Western Kenya, Nyanza province, and urban centers like Nairobi and Mombasa as significant sources for these trafficking cases.
In response to this alarming situation, the Kenyan government has successfully rescued over 150 citizens in the past three years and is actively working to assist an additional 45 individuals who have reached out for help. Kiptiness highlighted the collaboration with various partners, including NGOs and the governments of Thailand and Myanmar, to facilitate these rescues.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs recently confirmed that 64 Kenyans are presently at the Thai-Myanmar border, awaiting transit into Thailand after their rescue from a scam ring by armed groups. Ongoing negotiations between the Kenyan and Thai governments aim to reopen the border for the secure return of Kenyan nationals stranded in Myanmar. The ambassador has urged job seekers to be cautious and verify job offers through the embassy to avoid falling victim to such trafficking schemes.
The trafficking of Kenyans to Myanmar for online scams is a pressing issue, with the government actively working to rescue affected individuals. The Kenyan Embassy in Thailand has made significant strides in combating this issue, rescuing over 150 citizens. It is crucial for job seekers to exercise caution when applying for positions abroad and to seek validation from official sources, such as the embassy, to avoid exploitation.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
