Kenyan nationals were among hundreds rescued from scam centres in Myanmar, where they were trafficked and forced into online fraud. The rescues were carried out by a rebel group, with authorities warning against job scams luring victims through Thailand. Myanmar’s ongoing civil war complicates rescue efforts.

Kenyan nationals were among hundreds of foreigners rescued from scam centres in Myanmar and were awaiting transfer to neighbouring Thailand, according to the Kenyan foreign ministry.

The first group of 24 Kenyans was released last Wednesday, followed by another 46 who were rescued on Tuesday by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Myanmar rebel group operating along the Thai border.

According to a statement from the foreign ministry on Tuesday, the rescued individuals were among hundreds of other foreigners who had been trafficked to Myanmar late last year and forced to commit various online crimes. These crimes included scamming, fraud, identity theft, phishing, romance scams, and cryptocurrency scams.

Scam compounds have proliferated in Myanmar’s lawless border regions, where trafficked foreigners are forced to work in operations that swindle people worldwide.

While many of those involved are Chinese nationals, individuals from numerous other countries are believed to have been caught up in the industry, which analysts estimate is worth billions of dollars annually.

The Kenyan ministry stated that these scam centres are located in areas primarily controlled by rebel groups engaged in conflicts with the Myanmar government, making rescue operations extremely challenging. The ministry also issued a warning against travelling to Myanmar for job opportunities falsely advertised as being in Thailand.

"Kenyans should be aware that traffickers use Thailand as a trapdoor to lure vulnerable youth into Myanmar," the statement cautioned.

The DKBA reported that its personnel had discovered around 260 people from unspecified "businesses" while searching for victims of forced labour in areas under its control.

"We don’t know how they got here," said Major Saw San Aung, the DKBA’s chief of staff, in an interview with Reuters. "We are continuing the search for forced labour, and we will send them back."

Earlier this month, Thailand cut electricity, fuel, and internet supply to certain parts of Myanmar where these illegal operations are based. This move reflects growing concerns in Bangkok over the impact of scam centres on its vital tourism sector.

Since the end of January, Myanmar authorities have identified 1,303 foreigners who entered the country illegally and were working in scam compounds in the Myawaddy area.

Myanmar has been engulfed in a widening civil war since 2021, when the military overthrew an elected government. What began as protests has since escalated into a full-scale rebellion against the ruling junta.

Large portions of the Southeast Asian country are now under the control of various armed groups, including parts of Myawaddy, where these scam operations are known to exist.