Moroccan YouTuber Adam Taoufiq, also known as "New Battuta" has disappeared in mysterious circumstances after travelling to Myanmar's dangerous "Golden Triangle" region to create content about Moroccans who had been abducted there.
The Moroccan news website Hespress said that the last contact Taoufiq's family had had with the YouTuber was on 23 May, when he told his father he was in Vietnam, headed for Laos.
Hespress said that this had caused great concern because Taoufiq had always kept regular contact with his family when travelling.
Another Moroccan YouTuber, Amjad Rami, who was with Taoufiq before his disappearance said: "He was with me in Vietnam and he told me about his wish to go to the Golden Triangle area."
#Moroccan YouTuber Adam Taoufiq, known as “New Battuta,” disappeared after announcing plans to visit the “Golden Triangle” in #Myanmar, where Moroccans are reportedly detained.
Adam’s last contact was on May 23, when he informed his father, Tawfiq Hisham, that he was in Vietnam… pic.twitter.com/soDmjZUbbW
— Hespress English (@HespressEnglish)
The Golden Triangle refers to the border area between Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, where armed gangs are active and where foreigners often have their passports confiscated when visiting.
At least 140 Moroccans are believed to have been lured to the area with promises of employment and abducted by armed gangs, with some reports suggesting that many were forced to work in Internet phishing scams for over 12 hours a day.
They have also been subjected to torture, with the gangs demanding ransoms of over $10,000 US dollars for their release.
Moroccan authorities have opened a judicial investigation into the matter, taking testimonies from victims and their families. They have called on Moroccans to be careful of Internet scams and false offers of employment.
