Cambodian police release 60 Thai casino trafficking victims

Cambodia is working hard to clear its reputation as a country where foreign workers fall victim to nefarious parties. With an increase in human trafficking in the underground online gambling sector and the US warning companies to think twice before setting up shop in the country, the authorities have been hard at work.

According to The Bangkok Post, 60 casino workers from Thailand who were victims of human traffickers have been successfully returned to their country after authorities intervened. The workers were attracted by an advertisement for gambling vacancies in Sihanoukville, a troubled economic zone in Cambodia where most crimes related to human trafficking and illegal gambling are committed.

From day one, the workers were held in humiliating conditions, many refusing to comply and being beaten as a result. However, the kidnappers did not intend to force the workers to work but held them for ransom.

Relatives of the victims immediately appealed to the Thai police, who coordinated with their Cambodian counterparts. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is said to have personally intervened in the matter to ensure the victims were helped.

Traffickers show no remorse in Cambodia and beyond

Cambodia has received negative publicity in the international press, where human trafficking incidents are skyrocketing. Earlier in November, three Thai women were also rescued from an illegal gambling operation, media reported.

The operator was based in Poipet, another Cambodian town near the Thai border. Their kidnapper demanded a $300 ransom from relatives across the border, threatening to sell the victims if his terms were not met.

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While these incidents may seem isolated and unrelated, they depict a much larger picture of regional workers falling victim to various nefarious parties in Cambodia. One study published by the Thompson Reuters Foundation earlier this year found that traffickers began targeting tourists who could not return home because of the pandemic. Because of closed borders and lack of air travel, many people may still be in forced labour in many of Cambodia's illegal operations.

The good news is that authorities have been able to operate more freely in Sihanoukville as traffickers go into hiding. Reports have emerged from The Khmer Times that traffickers and illegal gambling businesses are fleeing to Koh Kong, another city that appears to be more attractive for their nefarious operations and has so far failed to attract the attention of the authorities.

Others seem keen to leave the country altogether. Cambodia is also actively working to shut down illegal gambling websites on and off its territory.