US Trafficking in Persons report says Cambodian officials complicit in human trafficking for online scams

A new report from the US State Department has highlighted alleged Cambodian government "corruption and official complicity" in human trafficking for the online scam industry just days after a high-level Cambodian delegation visited Australia to learn about how to "fight against technological crime".

"However, corruption and official complicity – including by high-level senior government officials – in trafficking crimes remained widespread and endemic during the reporting period; this included the exploitation of tens of thousands of victims in forced criminality in online scam operations in Cambodia," said the report.AI tools such as face-swapping and chatbots are being used by South-East Asia's crime syndicates to make their scams more efficient and effective.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Khieu Sopheak told the news outlet the Cambodian authorities had "tried our best and still need support" and called on the US to name the officials it believed were complicit in online scam operations. The ministry said the two sides spoke about cross-border crime and border security management, immigration issues and Australia continuing to provide training for Cambodian law enforcement officers in the prevention of fraudulent crimes and illegal online activities.

"The CPP has a long and well-documented history of allowing and/or protecting large, harmful industries and then turning around and seeking support to address them.From Taiwan to Indonesia, thousands have been trafficked to Cambodia and confined in casinos or dystopian compounds surrounded by thick coils of barbed wire, where they are forced to conduct elaborate cyber scams.

"Cambodia is too often viewed merely as a small, weak state in the region when in reality it has proven itself a capable, pragmatic, and dynamic actor," he said.Mr Sims said Australia could make greater use of its power to sanction foreign criminals. Trafficking victims forced to work in Cambodia's scam compounds use a variety of scams from "pig butchering" to finance and exortion.He said Cambodia's ruling elite held significant interests in Australia's real estate and financial markets while being similarly vested in exploitative and criminal industries like online scamming.

Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)

Cyberscams Human Trafficking Trafficking In Persons Report Phnom Penh Sihanoukville O'smach

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