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

In a press statement dated December 22, 2025, the department provided an update on efforts to rescue Kenyans trapped in criminal syndicates operating in remote border regions of Karen State, near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

“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 read.

Currently, 198 Kenyans await repatriation: 66 in Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre, 129 in Myanmar shelters, and three in a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Some initially refused cooperation, demanding government-funded tickets while spreading misinformation on social media.

The scam compounds, operated by criminal syndicates, were used to carry out online fraud while recruiting workers under false promises of legitimate employment.

The raids in September 2025 led to arrests, seizures, bombings, and demolitions, forcing operators to flee and leaving over 200 Kenyans in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, with another group crossing into Thailand.

Upon receiving an initial list of 126 Kenyans, the Government of Kenya, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, activated several measures.

These included creating WhatsApp groups for next-of-kin updates, negotiating discounted fares with Kenya Airways, issuing Emergency Travel Documents, and coordinating safe passage via the Thai-Myanmar 2nd Friendship Bridge. The department funded transport from shelters to airports.

Of the initial 126, seven remain pending rebooking after last-minute cancellations. Upon arrival, returnees are interviewed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organised Crime Unit to aid prosecutions.

The department’s counselling unit, in collaboration with stakeholders, provides psychosocial support to returnees and their families.

The government highlighted patterns among those seeking assistance, noting that many 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.

It added that promises to convert tourist visas to work permits are “a clear red flag”, urging citizens to report rogue agents.

“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.