Chinese trafficking cartels are reportedly demanding up to R200,000 per individual from the Kenyan government to secure the release of its citizens, who were lured to Myanmar under false pretenses of customer care jobs in Thailand. This alarming information comes from Kenya’s ambassador to Bangkok, Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole.
The ambassador explained that the cartels justify their ransom demands by claiming they invested approximately 45,000 RMB (R110,000) to acquire “slaves.” Despite government warnings, “young Kenyans continue to travel to Myanmar after paying exorbitant fees to recruitment agents for non-existent jobs in Thailand,” he stated.
“It is now widely recognized that the cryptocurrency and customer care positions supposedly available in Thailand are actually scam jobs in Myanmar, and some of the Kenyans are aware of this,” he added.
Lured into Slavery and Torture
Typically, Kenyans fly to Bangkok, where they are picked up and smuggled across the border into Myanmar, ending up in what can only be described as slave compounds. Once inside these heavily secured facilities, victims undergo ten days of training on the job’s requirements, using sophisticated phones and laptops.
Those who fail to meet their performance targets are subjected to torture. The embassy reports that several individuals have died from electrocution, although no Kenyans have died. However, many have experienced electrocution and have been imprisoned in dark rooms for days without food.
Recruiters are also targeting desperate job seekers from Ethiopia and Uganda. The Kenyan embassy revealed last week that its officials are actively working to secure the freedom of ten Kenyans, but rescue missions have proven to be perilous.
Forced Labor Crisis
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), over 11 million individuals in the Asia-Pacific region are victims of forced labor, accounting for more than half of the estimated 21 million victims worldwide. The ILO estimates that Africa has the second-highest number of forced laborers globally.
