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Cambodian police have rescued 67 Indian nationals from illegal scam centers in a city on the Cambodian-Thai border known for its many casinos and lawlessness, according to the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh.
The rescue took place on Sept. 22 in Poipet following leads from the embassy, which has stepped up its cooperation with Cambodian authorities to extricate Indians being detained by employers and forced to commit online fraud, the embassy said in a statement on Facebook on Oct. 2.
The embassy said it has increased warnings to its citizens about fraudulent job opportunities and the risks of traveling to Cambodia and other Southeast Asia countries where fake employment agents lure foreigners into working for scamming compounds.
Hundreds of Indians have been rescued by authorities this year after they traveled to Cambodia for what they thought were good jobs and quick money, but instead found themselves forced into cyber-crime slavery.
The Indian Embassy and Cambodian police jointly facilitated the repatriation of the Indians, and Indian diplomats saw them off at Siem Reap International Airport.
Fifteen of the rescued Indians left on Monday, two dozen others on Tuesday, and the remaining 28 on Wednesday, the embassy said.
Indian nationals involved in such activities who wish to return home can call an embassy emergency number, +855 9288 1676, or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in and visa.phnompenh@mea.gov.in for help. They also can call a Cambodian hotline at +855 9268 6969.
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Since January 2022, the embassy has facilitated the repatriation of over 1,000 Indian citizens with help from Cambodian authorities, it said, with nearly 770 sent home in the first nine months of 2024 alone.
Chou Bun Eng, permanent vice chairof Cambodia’s National CommitteeforCounter Trafficking, told Radio Free Asia on Thursday that the Indian nationals traveled to Cambodia through a network of companies in India.
Cambodian authorities have repeatedly asked the Indian Embassy to help prevent its nationals from traveling to the country to work for online scamming operations, she said.
“When there is a problem, they [the Indian nationals] blame the Cambodian government,” she added. “We can’t accept it. This is very unjust for Cambodia.”
Knock-on effects
Am Sam Ath, director general of public affairs for the human rights group Licadho, said the issue has seriously affected Cambodia’s tourism sector, security, investment environment, economy and image on the international stage.
“Cambodia should increase effective law enforcement, which means preventing and cracking down on online fraud, human trafficking and online gambling,” he said. “In order to implement the law effectively, there must be a will to crack down on and get rid of all forms of corruption.”
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol told a forum in Washington this week that his government is working to eliminate online scams and human trafficking in Cambodia.
“That is the government’s job,” he said. “We don’t ignore the issues. We are working hard to fight them and to create opportunities to draw investment and tourists to Cambodia.”
News of the rescue of the 67 Indians came a day after Cambodian journalist Mech Dara was imprisoned pending trial after being charged with inciting social chaos over social media posts deemed “fake news.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told RFA that Dara was "a leading voice in efforts to end human trafficking and online cyber scams" and should be released from prison immediately.
If found guilty, Dara faces six months to two years in prison.
Translated by RFA Khmer. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Joshua Lipes.