Cambodia has concluded a multi-day international conference focused on dismantling online scam networks and protecting victims of human trafficking. The event, which brought together representatives from various nations, the FBI, and China’s Ministry of Public Security, resulted in a nonbinding declaration outlining 11 points for cross-border cooperation. These measures include commitments to share intelligence, recover illicit proceeds, and provide protections for trafficking victims.

Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, who presided over the closing session, emphasized that the scale of tech-based fraud requires a unified global response. The conference took place against a backdrop of mounting international pressure, including a recent request from U.S. House committee chairs for the Trump administration to investigate whether senior Cambodian officials, including Savoeun and Interior Minister Sar Sokha, should face sanctions for alleged ties to the industry. Both officials have denied any involvement in such operations.

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The illicit scam industry has expanded significantly across Southeast Asia, with the United Nations estimating in 2023 that up to 100,000 foreign nationals were being held in forced labor conditions within Cambodian scam compounds. While the Cambodian government has initiated crackdowns, rights groups and analysts have expressed skepticism, arguing that high-level figures remain shielded from accountability. Bryony Lau of Human Rights Watch urged the government to conduct transparent, independent investigations into prominent business figures and lawmakers linked to these operations.

During the proceedings, the Cambodian Justice Ministry clarified that victims of forced labor would generally be exempt from prosecution for crimes committed under duress, provided they do not return to the compounds. However, officials noted that identifying victims remains a complex challenge. Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak reported that nearly 470 foreign nationals are currently held in detention centers awaiting deportation for their alleged roles in online scams.

Source: CamboJA News