Ethiopian trafficking victims recount torture in Myanmar scam compounds

Ethiopian survivors describe forced labor and brutal punishments in Myanmar scam centers.

Multinational victims of scam centres, trafficked into working in Myanmar and later sent to Thailand amid a crackdown on operations along the border, queue for food at a shelter inside the 310th Military District (Fort Wachiraprakan) while awaiting embassy assistance, in Tak province, Thailand, on February 19, 2025. Photo by Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters

By Nada Fadiyah and Widya Putri

Inside a Thai military camp on Wednesday, four Ethiopian men displayed bruises and scars they said were inflicted during their time in one of Myanmar’s most notorious scam compounds. The men, among 260 people recently transferred from Myanmar to Thailand, described severe abuse and forced labor in operations run by human traffickers.

"I got a lot of punishments," said 19-year-old Yotor, who gave only one name and showed cuts along his leg. "I received electric shocks every day."

Yotor and his fellow survivors are among the growing number of trafficking victims caught in Southeast Asia’s expanding network of scam centers. Criminal syndicates, according to the United Nations, have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people across the region, forcing them to work in online fraud schemes, particularly along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Crackdown follows high-profile abduction

The Thai government has intensified its crackdown on these scam compounds following the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing. Wang, who had been lured to Thailand with the promise of a lucrative acting job, was later found near the Myanmar town of Myawaddy and has since returned to China.

In response, Thai authorities have cut electricity, fuel, and internet supplies to certain border areas—a measure China has urged them to maintain.

Yotor, who was also rescued from Myawaddy, said he had initially traveled to Thailand seeking employment in Bangkok but was deceived and taken across the border. "They lied," he said.

Thousands still trapped in Myanmar scam compounds

On Wednesday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said that approximately 7,000 people rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar are awaiting transfer to Thailand. Among them, around 600 Chinese nationals will be repatriated on three flights starting Thursday from the Thai border town of Mae Sot.

Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the repatriation plan, stating that efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks remain a priority.

Victims describe brutal conditions

Survivors of the scam compounds recounted harrowing experiences of forced labor, long working hours, and violent punishments. Many were coerced into operating fraudulent online schemes, primarily targeting men through instant messaging applications like WhatsApp.

Faysal, a 21-year-old from Bangladesh, explained how workers were forced to manipulate victims into sending money.

"When a client says 'I love you,' then we start washing his brain how to get money," he said.

Failure to meet financial targets often resulted in severe beatings.

"We are not scammers," Faysal said. "We are victims."

The crackdown on scam compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border is expected to continue, but human rights groups warn that thousands remain trapped in similar operations across Southeast Asia.