46 more Kenyans rescued from human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar
The Kenyans were among hundreds of foreigners trafficked into the country late last year and coerced into participating in online fraud schemes, including phishing, identity theft, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud.
After months of intense negotiations, 46 more Kenyans have been rescued from human trafficking syndicates in Myanmar just days after 24 others were freed.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the victims, who had been forced into online scams, remain in Myanmar awaiting transfer to Thai authorities.
More To Read
- Report shows 44 per cent jump in Kenya’s kidnapping cases amid growing security concerns
- Man accused of assaulting sister in Eastleigh surrenders to police for questioning
- Ethiopian couple arrested in Nairobi over alleged human trafficking
- Sudan conflict fuelling mass refugee exodus, human trafficking into neighbouring states
The ministry explained that the latest rescue was carried out by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Border Guard Force (BGF), which operate in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden regions.
The Kenyans were among hundreds of foreigners trafficked into the country late last year and coerced into participating in online fraud schemes, including phishing, identity theft, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud.
“The Kenyans and other foreign nationals were being held in scam centres located within regions predominantly controlled by rebel groups fighting the Myanmar government, making rescue operations difficult,” the Ministry said.
The ministry further revealed that four other Kenyans had managed to escape Myanmar on February 8, 2025, and crossed into Thailand, where they were assisted by Thai civilians before being handed over to security authorities at the border.
It added that the four are currently safe and undergoing immigration processing ahead of their repatriation to Kenya.
This brings the total number of those rescued to 74.
The government has once again cautioned Kenyans against falling for job offers purportedly based in Thailand, which traffickers are using as bait to lure victims into scam operations in Myanmar.
It has urged those seeking employment abroad to verify job opportunities with the Ministry or the Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok before travelling.
Recently, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), issued a red notice for 37-year-old Wycliffe Magara, who is wanted in Kenya for human trafficking.
According to authorities, Magara is the main suspect behind the trafficking of Kenyan youth to countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia under the guise of offering them lucrative jobs.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched a manhunt for Magara after recording statements from victims in August last year. Investigations revealed that he had been operating a recruitment agency in Nairobi, which he allegedly used to lure unsuspecting job seekers into the hands of traffickers.
Victims were promised positions such as teaching, sales, and customer service jobs but were instead sold into forced labour, particularly in Myanmar and Laos. Some ended up working in scam centres that ran cybercrime operations, while others were forced into brothels or used in drug trafficking activities.
Several victims have since detailed how they were initially trafficked to Thailand before being smuggled into Myanmar, where they were coerced into cyber scams under inhumane conditions.
Top Stories Today
