MYANMAR — A 26-year-old Belarusian singer and former contestant on "The Voice," Vera Kravtsova, was killed in Myanmar after being lured to Asia for modeling work and falling victim to a human trafficking ring, according to multiple reports. Her family was reportedly told by her captors that she had been sold for her organs and her body was cremated.
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since confirmed the incident and is providing assistance to the family.
A Modeling Job Turns into a Nightmare
Kravtsova’s search for work in the modeling industry led her to Thailand. However, upon arrival, she was deceived and trafficked to a scam compound in Yangon, Myanmar, on September 20, where she was forced into labor slavery.
Inside the compound, Kravtsova was compelled to create fake profiles on dating sites and participate in romance scams, extorting money from men. According to one report, she was sold to an organ trafficking group after she refused to cooperate and failed to meet performance targets set by her captors.
A Grim Demand
Contact with Kravtsova was lost in early October. Shortly after, her family was contacted by unknown individuals with the horrific news of her death. The criminals initially demanded $500,000 for the return of her ashes.
Kravtsova’s mother reportedly negotiated with the scammers, who eventually agreed to return the ashes without payment. She now plans to travel to Myanmar to retrieve them.
The tragedy highlights a growing crisis in the region; a 2023 United Nations report estimated that approximately 120,000 people are being held in modern slavery in scam compounds across Myanmar.
