KATHMANDU: Nepal has rescued 860 citizens from online scam centers operating across Southeast Asia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, highlighting the growing scale of fraudulent overseas recruitment targeting Nepalis.

Speaking at a press briefing, ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudyal said 733 Nepalis were rescued from Cambodia, 113 from Myanmar, eight from Laos, and six from Thailand through coordinated efforts involving Nepali diplomatic missions and host governments.

Paudyal said 49 Nepalis are still imprisoned in Cambodia, with the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok coordinating legal assistance and consular support for those detained.
The ministry urged families of victims to file complaints with Nepal Police and other relevant authorities against individuals and networks responsible for illegally sending Nepalis to scam operations abroad. It said such information is crucial for taking legal action against traffickers and preventing more people from falling victim to similar schemes.

On the Middle East situation, the ministry said the government remains alert to the potential impact of the ongoing regional conflict on the safety and employment of Nepalis. However, Paudyal said no Nepali citizens have been reported affected so far, while reiterating Nepal’s support for dialogue, diplomacy, and the uninterrupted use of the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard regional stability and global trade.