A Kenyan man has made a daring escape from a ruthless call scam syndicate run by a Chinese-led gang in Myanmar, trekking barefoot for five hours through treacherous terrain before reaching safety in Thailand.
The 30-year-old victim, who has not been named, arrived at a local shop in Thailand’s Phop Phra district on Sunday morning, his body covered in wounds and bruises. He was desperate for help, pleading with authorities to save him from his captors.
Lured by a Fake Job Offer, Trapped in a Living Nightmare
His horrifying ordeal began when he responded to a job placement firm in Kenya, which promised him a high-paying chef position in Thailand. Excited by the opportunity, he flew to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 5, 2024, along with two other Kenyan nationals.
But instead of finding employment, the trio were forcibly taken to Mae Sot district and then smuggled across the border into Myanmar, where they were handed over to a brutal scam operation.
The facility, described by the escapee as a “scammer town”, was located in Myawaddy, Myanmar, a notorious hub for criminal syndicates running elaborate cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes.
Beatings, Torture, and a Desperate Escape
When the Kenyan victim refused to take part in the scam, his captors responded with horrifying violence.
• He was brutally beaten with a stun baton and a baseball bat.
• Hot wax was poured over his wounds as a form of torture.
• He endured months of torment, living in constant fear for his life.
Finally, he saw an opportunity to flee. Under the cover of darkness, he trekked over 10 kilometres through mountainous terrain, barefoot and exhausted, before finally reaching the safety of Thailand.
By the time he arrived, his feet were swollen and bloodied, and his body bore the scars of his horrific captivity.
Thousands Trapped in Scam Operations
The Kenyan man revealed that the scam operation housed over 1,000 people, all forced into cyber fraud schemes.
Among them were 23 Kenyans, as well as victims from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Chinese overseers ran the facility, ruthlessly enforcing obedience through fear and violence.
Crackdown on Human Trafficking Needed
The dramatic escape has once again shone a spotlight on the ruthless human trafficking networks operating in Southeast Asia, where job seekers are lured in with fake employment offers before being forced into criminal enterprises.
Authorities in Thailand and Myanmar have been cracking down on these syndicates, but many victims remain trapped, with little hope of escape.
The Kenyan victim is now in the custody of Thai authorities, who are working with the Kenyan embassy to ensure his safe return home.
Meanwhile, calls are growing louder for international action to dismantle these dangerous human trafficking rings before more innocent people fall prey to their traps.
