A group of 23 South Africans victims of a human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar is set to return home on Thursday following an international rescue operation.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed that its officials, working through the South African embassy in Thailand and in coordination with multiple agencies, facilitated their return.
“23 South Africans who fell victim to human trafficking (dressed as job offers) in Myanmar will arrive home today,” DIRCO spokesperson said on Thursday.
Their rescue was part of a large-scale crackdown by Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities, which freed more than 7,000 people trapped in locked compounds.
The victims were coerced into running online scams targeting individuals worldwide.
Among those rescued were nationals from Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
In response to the growing threat of job scam-related trafficking, Monyela announced that DIRCO plans to launch an awareness campaign to prevent more South Africans from falling prey to such schemes.
JN/APA