Cambodia Rescues 215 in Cyber Scam Crackdown
The rescue operation is part of a broader regional effort to combat human trafficking and cyber scams, with authorities working together to dismantle these networks and bring perpetrators to justice, as the victims are being provided with necessary support and assistance.
A joint operation by Thai and Cambodian authorities in the border town of Poipet has rescued 215 foreign nationals from a suspected cyber scam centre, including 109 Thais, 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, five Taiwanese, and three Indonesians.
The raid, which took place in Banteay Meanchey province, is the largest number of Thais rescued from a suspected cyber fraud building in a joint operation between the two countries. The operation was prompted by a tip-off about Chinese scammers operating online scams and gambling businesses in a three-storey building that reportedly belongs to a high-ranking government official in the province.
The crackdown on scam centres has intensified following the recent rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was lured to Thailand with a false job offer and taken to a scam centre in Myanmar. Regional governments have ramped up efforts to dismantle these operations, with Thailand cutting power, fuel, and internet supplies to areas linked to scam centres along the Thai-Myanmar border.
The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked across Southeast Asia for scam operations, generating billions of dollars annually. China has also repatriated 621 of its nationals rescued from scam centres, highlighting the growing regional efforts to combat these crimes.
The 215 foreign nationals rescued in the operation are being questioned and their personal data recorded, with the 109 Thais set to undergo a screening process to determine whether they were victims or accomplices. This operation marks a significant step in the fight against cyber scams in the region, with further crackdowns expected in the coming months.
