Russian "headhunter" arrested for luring CIS citizens into Myanmar labour trap PHOTO

A Russian man has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly tricking citizens from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) into working in fraudulent call centres, many of whom were later forced into labour in Myanmar. He now faces up to five years in prison.

The 35-year-old, identified as Sergey, reportedly worked for a Myanmar-based criminal network, acting as a “head hunter” to recruit unsuspecting workers, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Victims were drawn in with promises of legitimate jobs in Thailand, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions across the border.

Sergey lived in Bangkok with his Thai girlfriend, who worked at an upscale massage parlour and allegedly helped him run his illicit operation. Investigators estimate the couple earned around $40,000 over six months.

Raids on their apartment uncovered nine fake bank cards, several SIM cards, three smartphones, and a laptop.

While evading Thai authorities, Sergey reportedly disguised himself with a false beard and sunglasses, withdrawing money only from ATMs in tourist areas to avoid detection.

By Aghakazim Guliyev