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Citizens of Sierra Leone are among 406 foreign nationals deported from Cambodia this week as the Southeast Asian nation intensifies a massive crackdown on industrial-scale online scam compounds.
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) in Phnom Penh confirmed that the deportations took place via Techo International Airport following a series of high-profile raids. The group included nationals from nine countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, China, and Sierra Leone.
According to Cambodian authorities, the individuals were expelled for a range of offenses, including illegal residence, working without permits, and involvement in cross-border fraudulent activities such as the use of fake QR codes to facilitate scams.
The mass deportations come amid reports of a “humanitarian crisis” on the ground. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, warn that many of those caught in the sweep are not criminals, but victims of human trafficking who were lured to Cambodia with promises of legitimate tech jobs, only to be forced into “scamming slavery.”
Survivors from various African nations have reported being subjected to grave abuses, including the confiscation of their passports, torture, and being held for ransom. Unlike neighboring Asian countries, many African nations—including Sierra Leone—do not have permanent diplomatic missions in Phnom Penh, leaving their citizens without immediate consular support or funds for repatriation.
“This is an international crisis on Cambodian soil,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s regional research director. “Researchers have met people from Africa and beyond who are in urgent need of assistance to get home and out of harm’s way.”
The scale of the illicit industry is staggering. Experts estimate that these scam centers contribute nearly 40% of Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, international pressure from the United States, China, and the United Kingdom has forced the Cambodian government to act.
Recent operations include:
Bavet City Raid: A massive operation involving 700 officers that netted over 2,000 foreigners in a single casino zone.
2025 Totals: Cambodian records show that over 13,500 foreign nationals from 66 countries were deported last year alone for criminal activities.
High-Level Arrests: The recent extradition of a sanctioned “scam billionaire” to China has signaled a potential shift in how the government handles the syndicates.
Labour rights advocates are urging West Africans to exercise extreme caution regarding job advertisements in Southeast Asia promising high salaries for “customer service” or “data entry” roles.
“It is important to catch the masterminds,” said Khun Tharo, a labor rights manager in Cambodia. He noted that systemic corruption often allows these compounds to operate, leaving vulnerable migrants to face the legal consequences while the “kingpins” remain free.
The Sierra Leonean government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the specific number of its citizens affected or their current whereabouts.
