Moroccan Hostage Freed in Myanmar After $8,000 Crypto Ransom Payment

The Moroccan was released and handed over to the international NGO "Global Advance Projects" which led the negotiations with the armed militias, after his family paid a ransom of $8,000 in cryptocurrency, reports Assabah, specifying that the amount was paid into the account of the hostage’s brother, a banker, who transferred it to a friend residing in Europe, who took care of converting it into cryptocurrency before sending it to the kidnappers.

The members of the criminal network received the money, but have not yet released the Moroccan. For its part, the organization specialized in the fight against human trafficking is already active, in coordination with the Moroccan authorities, for his repatriation to Morocco, it is pointed out. Five other Moroccans could also leave the detention camp in the next few days if each of their families manages to pay a ransom of the same amount to the criminal gangs.

This reluctance of the kidnappers to release the Moroccan could be explained by their fear of being caught. They are actively sought by the Thai authorities for fraud, scam, kidnapping and torture, after several of their victims filed complaints with the judicial authorities of this country. According to the daily, some 158 Moroccans are still being held hostage and tortured by these criminal gangs in the Tai Shang camp in the Karen State, also known as the Valley of Hell. The investigation opened by the Casablanca prosecutor’s office is ongoing.