Foreign ministry confirms release of 34 Moroccans in Myanmar kidnapping case

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it successfully assisted in the release of 34 Moroccan citizens from criminal networks who were kidnapped in Myanmar.

In a detailed response to a parliamentary inquiry, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita confirmed that the freed individuals received assistance from the ministry, including their transfer from detention facilities to shelters pending deportation as well as facilitated necessary administrative procedures related to their transit and residence.

According to Bourita, the ministry covered the costs of airline tickets for 26 of the repatriated citizens and, in some cases, provided hotel accommodations while they awaited their return.

These efforts align with royal directives emphasizing the importance of addressing the welfare of Moroccans abroad and monitoring their conditions.

The ministry also coordinated with the Moroccan Embassy in Thailand to assist five additional citizens detained in Cambodia, bringing the total number of assisted individuals to 39.

Bourita cautioned against exaggerated claims circulating on social media, which suggested that hundreds of Moroccans were held hostage.

He emphasized that no complaints had been received from families to substantiate these allegations, and the ministry has consistently engaged with families to monitor the situation.

Bourita clarified that the Moroccan citizens targeted by human trafficking networks were not in Thailand but rather in areas controlled by armed ethnic groups in Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia and Laos.

These individuals were lured by fraudulent job offers, leading to their exploitation and, in some cases, abuse when they resisted.

Since the emergence of this issue, the ministry has maintained close communication with relevant Moroccan authorities, security services, and international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, to ensure a coordinated response.