Youssef Amzouz, a 26-year-old Moroccan, recently recounted his harrowing experience in Myanmar to Hespress, where he endured months of torment at the hands of human trafficking gangs. His ordeal finally ended when he returned home a few days ago, having paid a ransom amounting to MAD 130,000 (approximately $13,000 USD).
Amzouz became the first to shed light on the plight of Moroccans held in detention camps in Myanmar, where they faced torture and were coerced into illegal activities under duress.
Speaking to Hespress, he recalled the circumstances that led to his captivity: “I responded to an advertisement on social media offering a job in e-commerce in Thailand. After communicating for a period, I traveled to Malaysia and obtained a visa for Thailand. However, upon arrival, I found myself unsure of our location—was it China or Thailand? All I knew was that we were being held against our will.”
The intermediary who facilitated his journey, identified as a Moroccan nicknamed “El-Hajj” residing in Turkey, handled all arrangements including flights, accommodations, and transport. “I spent a night in Maesuach, a border city in Thailand, and the next day, another driver took me to Myanmar,” Amzouz explained.
Upon arrival at the detention camps, Amzouz immediately recognized the gravity of the situation: “I knew right away it involved illegal practices. Despite threats, I refused to work. They threatened that unless I recruited others, I would face dire consequences.”
Amzouz risked his safety to expose the situation on social media: “I asked for my phone to contact my father for ransom, and used it to post on Instagram. I took a risk to reveal what was happening there.”
Describing the criminal activities, Amzouz revealed, “They lure victims from around the world to invest in their platforms. They build trust, convince victims to deposit money, promising wealth. If the victim resists, they face torture.”
Detailing the brutal conditions in the camps, Amzouz recounted, “There’s a white room for those not profitable, subjected to daily beatings. The black room punishes rebels with broken limbs and electrocution. The worst is the red room underground, where death seemed inevitable.”
Amzouz regained freedom after his family paid the ransom via digital currency, routed through Russia. “Upon release, a human rights organization ensured my care. They arranged my stay in a Bangkok hotel, where embassy representatives visited,” he said.
Amzouz’s ordeal highlights the plight of Morocco’s trafficking victims, as urgency grows and impatience for international cooperation mounts.
Despite this successful rescue, other Moroccan nationals remain captive, alongside victims from countries including Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, India, and the Philippines, all hoping for liberation from the same criminal gang.
Initially, the victims had paid the gang $7,000 USD but had not been released as promised. With the intervention of the Thai organization Exodus Road, specializing in combating human trafficking, and support from Thai authorities, they managed to secure their freedom by paying a total of $10,000 USD.
Earlier efforts by Exodus Road led to the release of two other Moroccans in June, who were freed after paying a ransom of $6,000 USD each.
In addition, Moroccan media reported in the same month that three other Moroccan nationals were released after paying approximately MAD 100,000 each.
Exodus Road, in collaboration with the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), has been actively involved in identifying and assisting Moroccan captives. The Moroccan embassy in Bangkok has also been proactive, ensuring measures are in place to safeguard abducted citizens and prevent further reprisals.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.