Twenty-one Nepali citizens who had fallen victim to online scam operations in Cambodia have been rescued and brought back to Nepal, authorities said on Thursday.
The group had reportedly travelled to Cambodia after being lured by individuals promising work opportunities. Instead, they ended up at illegally operated online scam centres and casinos where they became involved in fraudulent online activities. Many were also found to be staying in the country without valid visas.
Their return was coordinated through the joint efforts of the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok and the Cambodian government. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Cambodia also assisted in facilitating their travel back to Nepal.
Officials say efforts are continuing to identify and assist other Nepali citizens who may still be stranded or facing difficulties in Cambodia. The embassy has been receiving reports that several Nepalis working in scam centres have had their passports confiscated by employers or have lost them while being transferred between different operations.
In such situations, the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has been issuing a free one-time travel permit to help affected individuals return home safely.
Authorities have also urged Nepali nationals currently in Cambodia without valid documentation or those facing problems to contact the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok or representatives of the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Cambodia for assistance.
The issue has drawn attention as the number of Nepali travellers to Cambodia has grown significantly in recent years. Tourism data from Cambodia shows that only 101 Nepalis visited the country in 2021. That number rose to 1,977 in 2022 and 2,940 in 2023. It climbed further to 6,404 in 2024 and reached 9,676 in 2025.