119 Kenyans Return Home After Coordinated Raids on Criminal Scam Syndicates in Myanmar

The government has successfully repatriated 119 Kenyans from illegal scam compounds in Myanmar following coordinated raids by local authorities and rebel groups, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs announced Monday.

In a press statement dated December 22, 2025, the department detailed ongoing rescue operations targeting Kenyans trapped in sophisticated criminal syndicates along remote border areas of Karen State, near the volatile Thailand-Myanmar frontier.

“119 Kenyans have been successfully repatriated, following recent raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups, with efforts continuing for the remaining Kenyans amid complex regional dynamics,” the statement confirmed.

Despite the successful repatriation, 198 Kenyans remain stranded: 66 are detained in Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre, 129 shelter in Myanmar facilities, and three reside in a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Authorities reported that some initially refused cooperation, demanding government-funded airline tickets while spreading misinformation on social media.

The criminal scam compounds, run by transnational syndicates, served as hubs for online fraud while luring desperate workers with false promises of legitimate employment opportunities.

The September 2025 multi-agency raids led to arrests, asset seizures, targeted bombings, and demolitions, forcing syndicate operators to flee. Over 200 Kenyans were left in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while others made perilous crossings into Thailand seeking safety.

After receiving a verified list of 126 trapped Kenyans, the government, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, implemented a series of measures. These included creating WhatsApp groups for next-of-kin updates, negotiating discounted fares with Kenya Airways, issuing Emergency Travel Documents, and arranging safe passage via the Thai-Myanmar 2nd Friendship Bridge. Ground transportation from shelters to airports was fully funded to ensure returnees reached evacuation flights safely.

Of the 126 scheduled for evacuation, seven remain pending rebooking due to last-minute cancellations disrupting travel arrangements. Upon arrival in Kenya, returnees undergo interviews with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organised Crime Unit to aid prosecutions against trafficking networks. The department’s counselling unit, in collaboration with stakeholders, provides essential psychosocial support to returnees and their families.

Officials highlighted troubling patterns among those seeking assistance, noting many had deliberately entered Thailand on tourist visas despite employment restrictions, bypassed previous evacuations, and knowingly returned to scam operations.

“Government-funded rescues for those knowingly engaging in illegal scam activities risk moral hazard, undermining travel advisories, safe migration policies, and deterrence against transnational crime,” the statement warned.

Authorities also cautioned that promises to convert tourist visas into work permits are “a clear red flag” and urged citizens to report rogue recruitment agents immediately.

“The Government remains committed to the welfare of its citizens abroad while insisting on personal responsibility, adherence to the law and travel advisories at all times,” the State Department for Diaspora Affairs concluded.

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