KATHMANDU, MARCH 12
Sixteen Nepali nationals who had travelled to Cambodia after being lured by human traffickers have been rescued and repatriated to Nepal, the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok said.
In a press release, the embassy stated that the Nepalis had been forced to work in illegal online scam centres and casinos involved in online fraud and other unlawful activities. Some of them were also staying in Cambodia without valid visas.
The rescue was carried out with the initiative of the Nepali embassy and the support of the Cambodian government, while the Non-Resident Nepali Association Cambodia facilitated their return to Nepal on March 12.
The embassy said efforts are also underway to assist other Nepalis stranded or facing difficulties in Cambodia to return home.
According to the embassy, several Nepali citizens in Cambodia have reportedly been involved in or forced into illegal activities such as online fraud and are staying without visas or beyond their visa validity. The embassy has urged such individuals to immediately contact the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok or representatives of the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Cambodia for assistance.
The embassy also noted that many victims have reported their passports being confiscated by companies operating scam centres or lost during transfers between such facilities. In such cases, the embassy has been issuing one-way travel permits free of charge to facilitate their return to Nepal.
Reiterating its advisory, the embassy urged Nepali citizens to obtain official labour approval before leaving for foreign employment and warned against travelling to countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand under the pretext of tourism in pursuit of quick financial gains.
The embassy also called on the media and civil society to help raise awareness about the risks of fraudulent overseas job offers and human trafficking.