Thousands of people, including suspected victims of human trafficking, have been released or escaped from scam compounds across Cambodia in recent days, according to officials and human rights groups. The Indonesian embassy in Phnom Penh reported 1,440 of its nationals had been freed, while large queues of Chinese nationals were seen outside the Chinese embassy.
Amnesty International said it had geolocated 15 videos and images showing escape attempts and releases at at least 10 compounds. The organisation estimates the total number freed to be in the thousands, but exact figures are unclear. Amnesty's regional research director, Montse Ferrer, expressed concern about the lack of support for released workers, some of whom have been seen 'walking around in search of assistance'.
The releases follow escalating international pressure, including UK and US sanctions in October against Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, who was arrested and extradited to China earlier this month. Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Asia Center, described the releases as 'unprecedented' and attributed them to mounting pressure on the Cambodian government.
However, Sims warned that without sustained international attention, workers risk being moved to other compounds. The US Trafficking in Persons Report for 2024 accused some Cambodian officials of complicity in the scam industry, a claim the government denies. Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged to eliminate cyber scam-related crime.
