A ‘education agent’ suspected of bringing Myanmar students to Finland at excessive cost

The Finnish Border Guard is investigating a person described as an “education agent” on suspicion of arranging for approximately 350 Myanmar nationals to come to Finland on student grounds between 2022 and 2025, the public broadcaster Yle reported.

The pre-trial investigation, led by the Gulf of Finland coast guard’s criminal prevention unit, includes a charge of gross extortion. Authorities suspect the agent and individuals linked to his company charged at least some of the students unreasonably large sums for study placements, residence permits, and language tests.

Several of the alleged victims are believed to have ended up in debt to the organisers, leaving them in a vulnerable position, the Border Guard said. The students were placed in upper-secondary institutions across Finland.

The Border Guard is urging any Myanmar students who may have fallen victim to the scheme to come forward.