At least 161 East Africans have been rescued from slavery-like scam camps in Myanmar, highlighting how international fraud networks are trapping vulnerable people from the region.
According to the report, the victims include 138 Ethiopians and 23 Kenyans who were held in camps where they were forced to work under harsh conditions. The rescue has drawn attention to how scam operations in Southeast Asia are exploiting job seekers from Africa.
Many of the victims were reportedly lured with promises of well-paying jobs abroad. Instead, they were taken to Myanmar, where they were held against their will and forced to participate in online scams. Those who failed to meet targets were allegedly punished or abused.
The case shows how poverty, unemployment, and lack of information are making young East Africans easy targets for international criminal networks. Once trapped, victims often have no way to contact their families or seek help.
The story was written by Hilary Kimuyu, a correspondent based in Nairobi, and published on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, by Nation Media Group.
