KATHMANDU, MARCH 13 Twenty-one Nepalis who had reached Cambodia after falling prey to various inducements and were later forced to work in illegal online scam centres and casinos have been rescued and repatriated to Nepal. According to a press release issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok, the individuals were forced to be involved in online fraud and other unlawful activities while also overstaying without valid visas in Cambodia. The rescue and repatriation were carried out through the initiative of the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok with the support of the Cambodian government. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Cambodia facilitated their return to Nepal on Friday. The embassy said efforts are ongoing to assist other Nepalis stranded or facing difficult conditions in Cambodia and facilitate their return home. The embassy has also received reports that some Nepalis in Cambodia have been forced to work in online fraud operations or are living without valid visas or beyond their visa period. Nepali citizens in such situations have been urged to contact the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok or representatives of NRNA Cambodia for assistance. Many victims have reportedly complained that their passports were confiscated by companies or lost during transfers between scam centres. In such cases, the embassy said it provides a one-way travel permit free of charge to enable them to return to Nepal. According to Cambodia's tourism statistics, the number of Nepali citizens travelling to Cambodia on tourist visas has risen sharply in recent years-from 101 in 2021 to 1,977 in 2022, 2,940 in 2023, 6,404 in 2024, and 9,676 in 2025. The embassy has urged Nepali citizens to obtain proper labour approval before going abroad for employment and warned them not to travel to countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand for foreign employment under the pretext of tourist visits or by falling for promises of quick and high earnings. The embassy also appealed to media and civil society to help disseminate the message to prevent Nepali citizens from falling victim to such schemes.