The United States Embassy in Nairobi has confirmed that hundreds of Kenyan nationals were rescued from online scam centres operating in Southeast Asia in 2026, as Washington announced fresh sanctions against criminal networks accused of trafficking people into forced labour.
The embassy disclosed the development on November 6, 2026, saying the sanctions targeted organisations involved in recruiting Kenyans and other foreign nationals through fraudulent employment offers before forcing them to work in overseas scam operations.
The announcement highlights growing international efforts to dismantle criminal networks that exploit vulnerable job seekers and use trafficked workers to carry out online fraud.
US Sanctions Cambodian-Based Criminal Network
The US State Department imposed sanctions on four individuals and 41 entities linked to the Cambodia-based Prince Group transnational criminal organisation.
Washington also sanctioned a Malaysian national accused of managing a separate scam network based in Madagascar.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Trump administration would continue efforts to expose and dismantle criminal organisations responsible for exploiting victims.
He said the government would “continue to expose, sanction, and dismantle the criminal networks that prey on” vulnerable people.
Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes of the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour said the latest sanctions built on more than 200 previous designations connected to scam centre operations.
Barnes described the facilities as criminal enterprises that “rely on trafficked labourers to fuel their criminal operations”, adding that the measures were intended to promote accountability and justice for victims, including Americans defrauded by the networks.
Kenyans Among Victims of Forced Labour
Online scam centres operating across parts of Southeast Asia have become a growing international concern, with criminal groups accused of recruiting foreign nationals through fake job advertisements and employment opportunities.
Victims are often transported abroad and forced to participate in cybercrime operations under threats of violence and other forms of abuse.
The US Embassy’s confirmation that hundreds of Kenyans were rescued underscores the growing reach of these criminal networks into East Africa.
According to the embassy, the rescued Kenyans had been compelled to work in facilities used to defraud people online, including American citizens.
The latest sanctions are part of Washington’s broader efforts to target the individuals, businesses and financial structures supporting international scam operations.
The move also highlights the need for stronger international cooperation to identify trafficking networks, rescue victims and prevent vulnerable job seekers from falling prey to fraudulent overseas employment offers.
