KATHMANDU, March 20: The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has rescued and repatriated 20 Nepali nationals who were staying illegally in Cambodia without visas.
According to the embassy, the rescue was carried out with support from the Cambodian government and facilitation by the Non-Resident Nepali Association. The individuals were sent from Cambodia on March 4 and arrived in Kathmandu on Friday via Tribhuvan International Airport.
The embassy said the victims had traveled to Cambodia after being lured by false promises and were later forced to work in illegal online scam centers, casinos, and other unlawful activities.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the embassy said efforts are ongoing to repatriate other Nepalis stranded or facing difficulties abroad. It also noted receiving reports that Nepali nationals in Cambodia have been involved in or forced into illegal activities such as online fraud and are staying without valid visas or beyond their visa duration.
Two stranded Nepalis in Cambodia rescued
The embassy has urged those in need of assistance to contact its emergency numbers and stated that it provides free one-way travel documents to facilitate return for those who have lost passports or had them confiscated by employers.
According to Cambodia’s tourism data, the number of Nepali visitors on tourist visas has increased significantly in recent years—from 101 in 2021 to 9,676 in 2025.
The embassy has urged Nepali citizens to obtain proper labor approvals as mandated by the Government of Nepal before seeking foreign employment and warned against falling for offers promising quick and high earnings in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
