Six Moroccan nationals were successfully released from a Myanmar call center fraud ring with the help of Thai immigration officials after their families paid a $10,000 ransom on Tuesday, Thai media reported.
The Moroccans were misled into traveling to Thailand with false job offers and subsequently transported to Myanmar’s Karen state, where they were compelled to participate in a call center scam operation.
They were subjected to extortion and abuse while being held for ransom.
The release of this group followed the earlier liberation of two Moroccans in June after their families paid a 6,000 dollars liberation fee and then reached out to the Exodus Road Foundation for assistance with the remaining victims.
Upon receiving information, the foundation reported the situation to the Moroccan Embassy in Thailand, the Myanmar Embassy, and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Although progress was initially slow, their efforts eventually led to the recent release of the six Moroccan nationals.
The Thai Immigration Bureau has transferred the individuals to Tak province in northern Thailand, where they will be safely held within the Office of Social Development and Human Security until they return to Morocco.
There are still other victims from Morocco and several other countries, including Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, India, and the Philippines who remain held, according to media reports, with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Exodus Road Foundation continue to work to locate and rescue these individuals.