Over 3,000 BD expats deported from Cambodia
More than 52,000 foreign nationals deported in first nine months of 2026; trafficking victims among Bangladeshis yet to be identified Cambodia deported more than 3,000 Bangladeshis in the first nine months of 2026 as authorities stepped up a crackdown on online scam operations, but the number of Bangladeshis trafficked and forced to work in such operations remains unclear.
BTV News Global reported the figures on October 27, citing an official report from Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration.
Cambodian authorities conducted 3,104 law enforcement operations between January and September, detaining and deporting 52,039 foreign nationals from 87 countries, according to the report.
The total was 41,685 higher than the figure recorded during the same period last year, representing an increase of more than 400 per cent.
Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group, at around 23,000, followed by more than 8,000 Indonesians, over 4,000 Vietnamese and more than 3,000 Bangladeshis.
The deportees also included more than 2,500 Pakistanis, around 2,000 Myanmar nationals and over 1,500 Thais.
The report said more than 18,000 foreign nationals from 38 countries had been identified as directly involved in online scam operations. However, it did not provide a breakdown of how many deported Bangladeshis were trafficking victims forced to take part in such activities.
Anirban Survivor Voice Foundation, which works to rescue and protect trafficking survivors, called for an independent assessment to establish how many of the Bangladeshis deported from Cambodia had been trafficked and coerced into criminal activities.
The organisation warned against labelling trafficking victims as accused persons or scammers without proper verification, urging the authorities to identify and protect them as victims.
It also called for an accurate account of how many deported Bangladeshis had returned home and how many remained in Cambodia.
The foundation urged the government to facilitate the swift return of Bangladeshis still in Cambodia and provide those who had already returned with legal assistance, mental health support and rehabilitation where needed.
It also called for closer monitoring to prevent deported Bangladeshis from falling prey to brokers and attempting to enter other countries illegally, potentially exposing them to renewed trafficking.
The organisation urged the authorities to identify and bring members of trafficking networks to justice.
