PM urged to rescue Moroccans trapped by human trafficking gang

[webfact]

An anti-human trafficking organisation urgently called upon Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to assist 21 Moroccan citizens trapped by a scammer gang on the Thai-Myanmar border. This plea comes after months of inaction from various agencies.

 

A prominent anti-trafficking group, Exodus Road, revealed the Moroccan Embassy in Bangkok had reached out for help on behalf of the victims. The embassy contacted multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Army, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok through an official letter in mid-May.

 

Since no progress has been reported, Exodus Road decided to escalate the matter to the prime minister. A source disclosed that the Moroccans were deceived by a Chinese transnational crime syndicate, promising them jobs in Thailand’s e-commerce sector with a starting salary of approximately US$1,000 (36,730 baht) per month.

 

Upon their arrival in Thailand in February, the group was forcibly taken to Hpa Lu village in Myanmar’s Myawaddy district, close to Thailand’s Phob Phra district in Tak province. The victims are reportedly confined in a room and subjected to routine torture.

They were coerced into contacting their relatives to demand US$6,000 to US$8,000 in ransom, with threats of being sold to another gang if the money was not paid.

 

In April, five victims managed to have their families pay the ransom, yet they remain in captivity, according to the source.

 

Exodus Road has also reached out to Fair Party MP Kannavee Suebsang for assistance. Kannavee previously played a crucial role in the evacuation of refugees in Laukkaing, Shan state, during a rebel siege.

 

In a Facebook post on Friday, Kannavee highlighted that, apart from the Moroccan citizens, the Chinese-operated syndicate has also taken 41 Sri Lankans hostage in Myanmar. Kannavee has called on the government to initiate a rescue mission, with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security taking the lead through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) method.

 

“Many gangs are operating out of ‘No Man’s Land’ right across the border from Tak’s Phob Phra district, due to the lack of law enforcement in the area and easy access to Thailand’s telecom infrastructure.”

 

The alarming situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated rescue efforts and stricter law enforcement in border areas to prevent such human trafficking incidents, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Ryan Turner

TOP: Another human trafficking group arrested in April, image courtesy of the CIB

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-01

 

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[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Upon their arrival in Thailand in February, the group was forcibly taken to Hpa Lu village in Myanmar’s Myawaddy district, close to Thailand’s Phob Phra district in Tak province. The victims are reportedly confined in a room and subjected to routine torture.

Don't think Srettha will want to touch that issue.

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The embassy contacted multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Army, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok through an official letter in mid-May.

Since no progress has been reported

Kind of similar to Thai citizens reporting a crime to the police, who do nothing until social media, an NGO, or an influencer gets involved...

[Artisi]

So will Thailand mount a military force and invade Myanmar to release these people? 

Better for the Moroccans to assemble a group of mercenaries and do their own thing. 

[webfact]

UPDATE 

 

21 Moroccan held by call centre scam gang seeks Thailand’s help

By Petch Petpailin

 

Photo via Facebook/ The Reporters

 

Moroccan nationals held captive by a call centre scam gang in Myanmar, near Tak province in northern Thailand, appealed to the Thai government for help. They reported being forced to commit fraud, physically assaulted and held for ransom.

 

The Moroccans contacted The Exodus Road Foundation in April after being coerced into working as scammers by the gang in Myanmar’s Karen State, reportedly led by Chinese nationals. They shared pictures of themselves and their injuries with the foundation.

 

The victims explained that they were invited to work in Thailand. However, upon arrival, they were taken to the scam gang’s headquarters in Myanmar and held for ransom, with demands ranging from US$6,000 to US$7,000 (about 250,000 baht).

 

If unable to pay, they were forced to work as call centre scammers and might be transferred to other scam operations.

 

The foundation reported the matter to the Moroccan Embassy in Thailand, the Myanmar Embassy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 17. However, a month later, there was no progress on the case.

 

Only two Moroccans were released in early June. They revealed they had travelled to Thailand for e-commerce jobs, promised US$1,000 initially and US$2,000 with improved skills.

 

No update made

 

Leaving Morocco on February 25 with five others, they arrived at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport on March 2. They then travelled to the Mae Sot district in Tak province and were picked up by a minivan, which took them across the river to what they later learned was Myanmar.

 

According to the victims, the scam gang leaders believed to be Chinese, took them to their headquarters and forced them into scamming operations.

 

The foundation then turned to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), who investigated and identified each Moroccan victim.

 

The DKBA and The Exodus Road Foundation then filed another complaint with Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Fair Party MP Kannavee Suebsang, who has experience rescuing human trafficking victims from Myanmar.

 

According to Channel 3, 21 Moroccans are seeking assistance, but more are believed to be held captive. Their families are worried, as some victims received death threats for exposing the scam operation.

 

Kannavee emphasised that the Thai government should not ignore these lives, even if the crimes occurred outside Thailand. As of now, there are no updates from Thai authorities.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via Facebook/ The Reporters

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-29

 

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[HOOD Robin]

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

So will Thailand mount a military force and invade Myanmar to release these people? 

Better for the Moroccans to assemble a group of mercenaries and do their own thing. 

 

RAMBO ?

 

He knows the jungle...  😉

[geisha]

Incredible the length these Chinese criminals will go to  to kidnap these victims. I find it a strange choice , Moroccans, who are not known for their skill in English or other  languages, unless they are counting on scamming Arab nationals ??  Also their Arab is not the same as say UAE Arab.  All men too ? 
I hope that they will be saved , these Chinese seem to stop at nothing. Surely the King of Morocco will have some say in this awful kidnapping ??? The Thai government should get in touch  with him immediately.