The government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has cautioned Kenyans against travelling to Myanmar for purported job opportunities, warning that they risk being lured by criminals.
The warning follows the release of 74 Kenyans who had been detained in scam compounds in Myanmar after being lured by fraudsters who claimed to offer them well-paying jobs.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 261 people including 24 Kenyans were released from the scam compounds on February 12 this year after successful negotiations by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
The release of the 261 individuals followed months of delicate negotiations spearheaded by the Kenya Embassy in Thailand in conjunction with various partners in Thailand and Myanmar.
Similarly, yesterday, February 18, another group of 46 Kenyans was rescued by the Border Guard Force (BGF) of Thailand. Despite their rescue, the 46 will remain in Myanmar pending their handing over to the Thailand government.
Those rescued are among hundreds of other foreigners trafficked to Myanmar last year and forced to commit various online crimes including scamming, fraud, identity theft, phishing, romance scams, and cryptocurrency scams.
“The Kenyans and other nationals were rescued from scam centres located within regions predominantly controlled by rebel groups fighting the Myanmar government, thereby making it difficult for rescue operations,” the ministry revealed.
Additionally, on February 8, four other Kenyans were rescued by a civilian group in Thailand after managing to escape from the scam compounds in Myanmar.
A report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the four were later handed over to Thailand security officers and are currently being processed by immigration authorities before being repatriated back home.
“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs continues to caution against travelling to Myanmar for jobs purported to be in Thailand, only to end up in scam compounds in Myanmar. Kenyans should be aware that traffickers use Thailand as a trapdoor to lure vulnerable Youth into Myanmar,” the Ministry warned.
“The Ministry calls upon Kenyans interested in jobs advertised in Thailand to get in touch with the Ministry or the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok to authenticate any such offers before travelling abroad."
It is not the first time Kenyans have been cautioned against travelling to Myanmar due to security concerns, in October last year, the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand warned members of the public against travelling to the Asian country, stating that they risked being held, hostage.
The warning g followed the detention of ten Kenyans who had been lured by the criminals purporting to offer them jobs. Attempts by Kenyan officials to secure their release hit the rocks as the criminals sought ransom.
