12 more Moroccans freed from Myanmar call center scam

Twelve more Moroccans, abducted by a call center scam gang in Myanmar, were helped by Thai authorities to return to Thailand on Friday, July 5, Thai media reported.

The 12 Moroccans crossed through the Tak border checkpoint in an operation conducted jointly by the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and the Embassy of Morocco. The Embassy had contacted Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome in May to help rescue 21 Moroccans believed to be trapped in Myanmar.

In turn, the Thai army collaborated with local NGOs and humanitarian agencies to locate the victims and negotiate their release. Officials, who interviewed the victims, said there were initially 21. Seven others were released after their families paid a ransom, and two decided to continue working with the gang.

«It’s time for the government to take this problem seriously. [Rescuing them] should be made part of the national agenda», said Rangsiman, a party-list MP from the opposition Move Forward Party.

«Measures should be implemented to protect people from being deceived by these scamming gangs», he said. «The issue here is not just human trafficking, but also stealing victims’ properties, violating their rights, and other illegal work».

For the record, the Moroccan victims were initially lured with promises of high-paying e-commerce jobs in Thailand but were instead taken to rebel-controlled areas in Myanmar to work in cybercrime call centers.

Shortly after arriving in Thailand in February, they were transported to a village in Myanmar's Myawaddy district, where they were held captive and tortured.

Earlier this week, Exodus Road sought the help of Thailand's Srettha Thavisin to free 21 Moroccan nationals abducted by the same gang. The organization decided to seek the Prime Minister's help after the Moroccan Embassy in Bangkok requested assistance from various agencies on May 17th in an official letter.