Mar 19, Kathmandu - Twenty Nepali individuals involved in online scams and other illegal activities in Cambodia have been rescued and brought back to Nepal. The repatriation was facilitated by the Nepali Embassy in Thailand, with the support of the Cambodian government, and took place today.

Many of these individuals had traveled to Cambodia under false pretenses and fell victim to various scams. They were found working in illegal online scamming centers and casinos operating in the country, where they engaged in online fraud and other unlawful work.

The embassy has received information that Nepali nationals in Cambodia have been involved in illegal activities such as online scams and have overstayed their visas or are working without proper permits. Reports indicate that many of these individuals had their passports confiscated by the companies operating the scamming centers or lost their passports during transfers from these centers.

In such cases, the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has issued unilateral travel permits free of charge to facilitate their return to Nepal. According to Cambodian tourism statistics, the number of Nepali visitors has increased significantly over 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 Nepali government advises all citizens to follow proper procedures, including obtaining work permits, before seeking employment abroad. The embassy also urges citizens not to fall prey to scams promising quick and high earnings in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand under the guise of tourism or other visits, which could lead to illegal employment.