Kathmandu, 6 May: It has been found that even those who were rescued from online scam operations in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos and returned to Nepal are actively involved in sending others to those countries. According to Krishna Prasad PangenI, chief of the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, Nepali citizens are being taken to these countries on visit visas under the pretext of providing good jobs, and then held captive and forced to work in illegally operated online centers.
He said, “Just two days ago, a video surfaced showing around 200 Nepalis being locked in a single room after being taken to Cambodia. Investigation confirmed that they were indeed kept like that, and further inquiry is ongoing to determine the exact number.”
According to him, even some of those involved in trafficking Nepali citizens to these countries had themselves previously been rescued from similar situations. Among those arrested based on complaints from rescued individuals, some admitted they had initially gone there under similar circumstances. Over the past two years, around 35 individuals have been arrested, prosecuted, and those found guilty have been sent to prison.
He added, “According to the rescued victims, once taken there, they are forced into online scam operations. If they refuse, they are held hostage and made to ask money from their families, and are also forced to trap others like themselves.” Some of those who returned after trapping others are still at large. Those arrested are being charged with human trafficking, illegal transportation, hostage-taking, and forced labor. Search operations in Thailand are nearly complete, while efforts are still ongoing in Cambodia and Myanmar to locate Nepali citizens.
612 people rescued
Recently, the government has rescued 612 Nepali citizens who were trapped and forced into illegal work. Rescue operations are still ongoing. Although the exact number of those still trapped is unknown, the number of people coming into contact is increasing daily, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Kshetri informed that five individuals have been arrested by the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau and legal action has been initiated against them. According to him, it is estimated that nearly 21,000 Nepali citizens have traveled to those regions on visit visas since 2021.
He stated that it remains a matter of investigation as to how and for what purpose they went there, and what they are currently doing. He said, “When it becomes the government’s responsibility, we continue rescue and search operations for Nepali citizens trapped in online scams. Although we advise people not to go to those regions, the trend has not stopped.”
In coordination with the Non-Resident Nepali Association and the respective governments, the government has so far rescued and repatriated 612 Nepali citizens. Among them, 487 were rescued from Cambodia, 111 from Myanmar, 8 from Laos, and 6 from Thailand, according to Joint Secretary Ramkaji Khadka. He added that documentation is being prepared to bring back another 53 individuals, and that recently more people have been going there illegally lured by the promise of good jobs. The authorities are currently aware of the condition of 14 such individuals.
The ministry has urged the general public to be cautious and fully understand before traveling, as blindly trusting others can lead to serious problems in the future. According to the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, many Nepalis have fallen victim to various temptations, reached Cambodia, and are being forced into illegal activities such as online scamming centers, while many are also staying in Cambodia without valid visas.
According to Cambodia’s tourism statistics, 1,999 Nepalis visited in 2022, 2,940 in 2023, 6,404 in 2024, and a significantly higher 9,676 in 2025. The Government of Nepal has urged people to go for foreign employment only after obtaining labor approval as per official standards. Nepal Police stated that search operations are being conducted through diplomatic missions abroad, along with awareness programs.
