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Cambodian immigration authorities deported more than 3,000 Bangladeshis among 52,039 foreign nationals from 87 countries during the first nine months of 2026 as part of a crackdown on online scams, according to a report by Cambodia-based BTV News Global published on October 27.
Citing an official report by Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration, the news outlet said authorities conducted 3,104 law enforcement operations between January and September, resulting in the detention and deportation of the foreign nationals.
The number of deportations increased by 41,685 compared with the same period in 2025, representing a rise of more than 400 per cent.
Among those deported were nearly 23,000 Chinese nationals, more than 8,000 Indonesians, over 4,000 Vietnamese and more than 3,000 Bangladeshis. The list also included over 2,500 Pakistanis, around 2,000 Myanmar nationals and more than 1,500 Thai nationals.
The report said more than 18,000 foreign nationals from 38 countries were identified as being directly involved in online scam activities. However, no separate statistics were provided on how many of the deported Bangladeshis had been victims of human trafficking and forced into such activities.
Anirban Survivor Voice Foundation, an organisation working to rescue and protect trafficking survivors, stressed the need for an impartial assessment to determine how many deported Bangladeshis had been trafficked and forced to engage in criminal activities.
The organisation said trafficking survivors should not be automatically labelled as suspects or scammers without proper screening. It called on the government to ensure their identification, protection and access to appropriate support.
It also urged the authorities to compile an accurate list of deported Bangladeshis, establishing how many had returned home and how many remained stranded in Cambodia.
The organisation called for the prompt repatriation of Bangladeshis still in Cambodia and access to legal assistance, mental health services and rehabilitation for those who return, based on their needs.
It further stressed the need for increased monitoring to prevent deported Bangladeshis from falling prey to brokers who might lure them into illegally travelling to other countries, exposing them to renewed risks of human trafficking.
The organisation also called for members of human trafficking networks to be identified and brought to justice.
