Kathmandu, 26 Feb: The trafficking of Nepali citizens into illegal online scam operations in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia has been increasing. As the number of rescued Nepalis rises each year, the government is facing additional challenges due to a lack of necessary resources, manpower, and financial capacity.
According to senior officials at the ministry, the practice of luring Nepali youths abroad with false promises to engage in such illegal online scams has been growing annually. This has further complicated efforts to ensure timely rescue, safe repatriation, and rehabilitation of affected citizens. Lok Bahadur Chhetri, Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that a total of 382 Nepali nationals have so far been rescued from those regions.
The data show a rising trend: 68 individuals were rescued in fiscal year 2080/81 (2023/24), 156 in 2081/82 (2024/25), and 168 in the most recent fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26). He stated, “Currently, 248 Nepali nationals in Cambodia are awaiting rescue. Ten have been brought to Thailand, while another 30 are still waiting for rescue in Myanmar.”
During a discussion held at the ministry on Wednesday regarding the growing challenges of rescue operations, officials clarified that this issue has become more complex since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. The government is struggling with how to prevent Generation Z youths from falling into such illegal schemes. Recently, the issue became more complicated after the Cambodian government sentenced 495 foreign nationals from 17 countries, including 18 Nepalis, to one year in prison for illegal residence.
Generation Z increasingly targeted
According to Prakash Adhikari, Chief of the Middle East Division at the ministry, most of those traveling directly from Nepal on visit visas or with labor approval are educated Generation Z youths who are proficient in English and computer technology. He said, “Those who know computers and have previously worked abroad become the primary targets of this racket. Once they are trapped, they are used to lure others into becoming victims.”
He added that as this network expands, entire families, communities, and villages are affected. Many victims, after returning home, hesitate to file complaints with the police or other judicial bodies. In some cases, victims are promised freedom if they recruit additional people, leading to multiple youths from the same village being drawn into the scam network. Others are coerced through threats of violence, false accusations, or intimidation to trap more youths.
When rescued Nepalis are encouraged to file complaints with Nepal’s Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, many refuse, making it difficult for the government to implement effective legal and policy measures. Due to the lack of thorough investigation and continuous monitoring of returnees, there is suspicion that some former victims may later act as agents sending others into the same trap.
Adhikari said, “Tempted by promises of easy desk jobs, computer-based work, and high salaries, youths are drawn in by the hope of earning quickly and eventually reaching Europe, even risking their lives and ending up in captivity.”
Rescue operations require reaching remote and difficult areas from Thailand to Myanmar and Cambodia, which demands significant manpower and financial resources. The ministry has acknowledged that intergovernmental coordination has not been fully effective, further increasing risks in rescue efforts. Pushparaj Bhattarai, Chief of the Diaspora Division, noted, “It’s not that investigations haven’t been conducted on how Nepali citizens are being tracked, but the use of satellite phones beyond our technological capacity has made it difficult to apprehend those involved.”
He also complained that individuals traveling to Thailand or Cambodia sign documents during labor approval stating they will not lodge complaints in case of emergencies, making legal action difficult. The Myawaddy region of Myanmar and the Mae Sot area of Thailand are largely controlled by armed groups, and even with coordination between Nepal’s embassy and the two countries, limited resources have hindered effective action.
Furthermore, there is no dedicated fund specifically allocated for rescuing such Nepali citizens. The government has had to rely on the Foreign Employment Social Security Fund and support from the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). However, since there is no clear legal provision allowing direct use of the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund for rescue operations, there is a risk of financial irregularities.
The ministry has stated that it has begun collecting suggestions to develop necessary strategies. Participants in the discussion emphasized the need to accurately identify the number of Nepali citizens in those regions and to legally establish effective measures to prevent further migration of Nepalis to such high-risk areas in the future.
