Julian Morgans

The next step involved arranging transport and accommodation for 23 people. And this involved assuring the Thai government that these people wouldn't become their problem.

The next step involved arranging transport and accommodation for 23 people. And this involved assuring the Thai government that these people wouldn't become their problem.

So this very delicate diplomatic dance is being choreographed between the local militia in Myanmar, the Thai government and the Taiwanese scammer farm owners who they just have to play ball because they're renting the land from Myanmar. And everyone agreed to this exchange. And the big day arrived.

So this very delicate diplomatic dance is being choreographed between the local militia in Myanmar, the Thai government and the Taiwanese scammer farm owners who they just have to play ball because they're renting the land from Myanmar. And everyone agreed to this exchange. And the big day arrived.

That morning, on the Thai side of the border, Judah's team had been frantically trying to find someone who'd meet the Ugandans outside their compound. Because he'd been told if anything went wrong or if there were any delays, all the Ugandans would go straight back into the compound.

That morning, on the Thai side of the border, Judah's team had been frantically trying to find someone who'd meet the Ugandans outside their compound. Because he'd been told if anything went wrong or if there were any delays, all the Ugandans would go straight back into the compound.

The stakes are very high here and very real. Judah told me he's seen lots of people on the cusp of freedom get sent back into the scammer farms just due to a delay in the handover or because of some small, very minus crop. And he managed to find someone to meet the Ugandans who were being marched out.

The stakes are very high here and very real. Judah told me he's seen lots of people on the cusp of freedom get sent back into the scammer farms just due to a delay in the handover or because of some small, very minus crop. And he managed to find someone to meet the Ugandans who were being marched out.

Q and his friends were driven to the river that marks the border between Myanmar and Thailand. And they could see freedom. But the barge motor to bring them across the river, it had broken down. And for Judah, this was a really tense moment.

Q and his friends were driven to the river that marks the border between Myanmar and Thailand. And they could see freedom. But the barge motor to bring them across the river, it had broken down. And for Judah, this was a really tense moment.

Finally, the engine in the barge coughed a laugh and 23 Ugandans piled on board and then the barge chugged across the water.

Finally, the engine in the barge coughed a laugh and 23 Ugandans piled on board and then the barge chugged across the water.

And, of course, among that crowd was Small Q.

And, of course, among that crowd was Small Q.

You can see the smiles on our face that day. And Judah, he also remembers meeting Q for the very first time.

You can see the smiles on our face that day. And Judah, he also remembers meeting Q for the very first time.

I really like this layer to our story. Small Q is this musician, you know, this rapper with 11,000 followers on Instagram and this big YouTube channel. But he's also gone through hell and he arrived home bruised and battered and much thinner than when he left. But he was alive, which he says was a gift.

I really like this layer to our story. Small Q is this musician, you know, this rapper with 11,000 followers on Instagram and this big YouTube channel. But he's also gone through hell and he arrived home bruised and battered and much thinner than when he left. But he was alive, which he says was a gift.

Yeah, but it was a complicated one because he found himself right back where he'd started, but just much worse off.

Yeah, but it was a complicated one because he found himself right back where he'd started, but just much worse off.