In a significant humanitarian development, approximately 260 human trafficking victims, predominantly from Ethiopia, have been transferred to Thailand after being rescued from a rebel-controlled area along the Myanmar border. This repatriation follows their discovery by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBD), a Myanmar insurgent group, which facilitated their handover to the Thai military on Wednesday.
The victims were reportedly forced to work at a scam center in Kyauk Khet, a village in Kayin state. Major Saw San Aung, the DKBD’s chief of staff, emphasized their ongoing efforts to combat forced labor and pledged to continue searching for additional victims.
The Thai Army confirmed that the group included individuals from 20 different countries, with 138 being Ethiopian nationals. The victims were seen crossing the Moei River into Thailand, where they were met by Thai military vehicles under the watchful eye of soldiers.
This repatriation comes on the heels of Thailand’s decision to cut power to border areas with Myanmar in an effort to disrupt criminal gang operations, particularly those involved in online fraud schemes known as “scam centers.” These operations have increasingly targeted foreign nationals, leading to a surge in human trafficking cases.
The crackdown on such centers has intensified, especially following the rescue of Chinese victims from similar trafficking operations last month. Survivors have described horrific conditions resembling imprisonment, highlighting the urgent need for continued intervention and support for trafficking victims in the region.
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