Cambodia searching for human trafficking victims

August 22, 2022 Cambodia Crime & Legal

Cambodia on Friday said it is attempting to aid foreigners who have been conned by human traffickers, after Taiwan said it is seeking to free more than 300 of its citizens who were lured to the Southeast Asian nation by organized crime groups.

The mostly well-educated young people were promised high wages for tech jobs, but were then forced to work in call centers, scamming mainly Chinese into making payments for non-existent government fees or investment opportunities.

Cambodian Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng said his ministry is launching a nationwide check of all foreigners living in Cambodia, aside from embassy personnel.

It would search especially for foreigners who have been victimized by human traffickers, he said.

Police in two provinces, Kandal and Preah Sihanouk, on Thursday checked the status of foreigners residing or working at hotels, rented properties and casinos, Sar Kheng said, adding that several people were arrested on suspicion of organizing human trafficking and some apparent victims were taken into protection.

Police were still trying to determine whether those who said they were victims were telling the truth, he said.

Sar Kheng did not specify how many people were rounded up or what their nationalities were, but confirmed that some foreigners told police that they had been attracted by what were portrayed as lawful jobs offering high salaries.

However, upon arriving in Cambodia, they were forced to work illegally in jobs that were “not what they had agreed to,” Sar Kheng said.

Taiwan on Friday said 333 of its citizens were stuck in Cambodia after being lured by crime groups promising high wages for tech jobs, based on reports from families asking for help.

The situation is complicated further because Cambodia is a close ally of China and refuses to recognize Taiwan or have any official contacts with the government in Taipei.