Cambodian authorities carried out a significant raid on a human trafficking compound in Phnom Penh’s Stung Meanchey district, detaining over 200 Chinese and Pakistani nationals believed to be involved in forced scam operations, including "pig butchering" schemes. This operation follows a similar crackdown just two weeks prior, in which over 1,000 foreigners were detained in Kampong Speu.

The recent raid was triggered by reports of people being held against their will, which led to the capture of more than 600 individuals, including alleged traffickers and victims from various countries, such as Nepal and Thailand. Although officials have been reluctant to release specific details, immigration director Sok Veasna confirmed that those detained are currently being processed for deportation, with investigations ongoing into the ownership and operations of the compound.

In response to the raids, the Chinese embassy issued a notice urging Chinese nationals in Cambodia to abide by local labor laws and work only through authorized channels. Meanwhile, concerns over human trafficking in Southeast Asia continue to grow, with estimates from the United Nations indicating that trafficking operations across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are responsible for nearly $64 billion in global scams annually. Cambodian authorities, however, have dismissed claims of widespread human trafficking, describing them as exaggerated and a source of “false information.”