Twelve Moroccans Freed by Thai Army in Myanmar

Twelve Moroccan nationals, including a young woman, have been freed after being held hostage by armed groups in Myanmar. On Friday, July 5, Thai media reported that their repatriation to Thailand was achieved through the joint efforts of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), the Moroccan Embassy in Bangkok, and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The twelve Moroccans had been detained for some time in call centers in Myawaddy. They crossed the Thai border via the Tak checkpoint after being lured by fake job offers in casinos and subsequently taken hostage and forced to work for local gangs.

According to local sources, the Thai army coordinated with humanitarian organizations to identify the victims and their detention conditions, and to negotiate their release with the owner of a casino involved in the case.

Authorities revealed, after questioning the victims, that a total of 21 people had fallen prey to this scam. Of these, seven were released after their families paid ransoms, while two chose to remain working in Myanmar.

Rangsiman Rome, a member of the opposition Move Forward Party and chairman of the Security and Border Affairs Committee in the Thai Parliament, stated in local press that « it is time for the government to take this issue seriously. Rescuing them should be part of the national agenda. » He also emphasized that « measures must be taken to protect people from the deceit of these gangs, » noting that « the issue goes beyond human trafficking and includes theft of victims’ property, rights violations, and illegal labor. »