Three Moroccans freed after ransom paid to human traffickers in Myanmar

Three Moroccans have returned home after being released by a human trafficking network in Myanmar in exchange for a ransom. The families of the three victims paid 100,000 Dhs each to secure their freedom. This brings the number of freed Moroccan citizens to about 20, out of more than 100 estimated to be held in camps in Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries, according to Al 3omk.

The victims were initially lured with promises of high-paying jobs in e-commerce in Thailand but were instead taken to rebel areas in Myanmar to work in cybercrime call centers. On May 15, Morocco's ambassador to Thailand, Abdelrahim Rahali, informed MAP that the Moroccan embassy is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the kidnapped Moroccan citizens and prevent any reprisals. Rahali emphasized that the embassy in Bangkok is closely monitoring the situation and intensifying efforts to assist the victims.

The Moroccan embassy maintains daily contact with Thai authorities to track the situation and gather information related to the Moroccan nationals. The victims are among several thousand people from various nationalities, including African, Asian, and European countries. Some victims managed to escape from the camp, which has been described as a place of exploitation and open-air torture, where Chinese mafia militias operate with impunity.