612 Nepali citizens rescued from Southeast Asia
Among them, 487 were brought back from Cambodia, 111 from Myanmar, 8 from Laos, and 6 from Thailand.
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped up efforts to rescue Nepali citizens trapped in online digital scam networks operating across Southeast Asia.
According to ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri, a total of 612 Nepalis have been successfully rescued and repatriated so far from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
Among them, 487 were brought back from Cambodia, 111 from Myanmar, 8 from Laos, and 6 from Thailand.
Diplomatic missions in Thailand and Myanmar are actively coordinating with local authorities to facilitate ongoing rescue operations.
The ministry also confirmed that travel documents for 53 more individuals have already been prepared, and their return to Nepal is expected soon.
Officials estimate that around 21,000 Nepalis have travelled to Cambodia since 2021 for various purposes, with many suspected of being lured into illegal scam operations.
In a recent crackdown, Cambodian authorities arrested nine Nepalis on charges linked to criminal activities.
Five of them are set to appear before the Siem Reap Provincial Court on organized fraud charges, while the remaining four are under detention for alleged involvement in hostage-taking, torture, and violent crimes.
This brings the total number of arrested Nepalis in Cambodia to 14.
Meanwhile, the government is also accelerating discussions on a proposed bill aimed at integrating and reforming laws related to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs).
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said the new framework will help utilize the knowledge, skills, and capital of NRNs for Nepal’s development and will soon be presented in Parliament after final revisions.
The ministry further stated that it is strengthening inter-agency coordination with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to enhance Nepal’s foreign engagement and labor protection mechanisms.
