Thousands of foreign laborers from China, Indonesia, and several African countries have flooded into Phnom Penh after escaping scam villages—fraud compounds located near Cambodia’s borders—in hopes of returning to their home countries. Anti-human-trafficking organizations warn that many of those who fled are victims of forced labor and scam-related exploitation and remain in precarious and unsafe conditions. Growing international pressure has pushed the Cambodian government to intensify its crackdown on criminal networks behind the scam operations, arresting several foreign ringleaders. These actions reportedly triggered a mass exodus, with workers breaching compound security to reach the capital.
In Phnom Penh, hundreds of Chinese nationals—many without passports—are reportedly sleeping outdoors near the Chinese embassy, desperate to return home but unable to do so. Similar scenes have emerged at the Indonesian embassy and in nearby public parks, where Indonesian citizens are seeking assistance; embassy officials processed roughly 1,440 cases within a five-day period. Escapees have described harsh and abusive conditions inside the scam compounds and said they undertook dangerous journeys to reach the city. Cambodian authorities say they are determined to dismantle online scam operations and restore the country’s international image, while new regulations target landlords who shelter foreigners with criminal backgrounds. The government has also appealed for foreign assistance to provide temporary housing for those unable to leave Cambodia.
Source: Epoch Times, January 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/23/n14682626.htm