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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 716
ANSWERED ON 05/02/2026
INDIANS TRAFFICKED TO SOUTH EAST ASIA
716. SHRI SAKET GOKHALE
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Indian nationals suspected to have been trafficked to or entrapped in cyber-
scam compounds in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, State-wise and year-wise, since 2021;
(b) the details of Indian nationals who are still untraced from there as on date; and
(c) the details of specific bilateral instruments, if any, concluded since 2024 with
Cambodia/Laos/Myanmar for criminal accountability of recruiters and camp operators and for
victim compensation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to c) Government has been made aware of instances where dubious firms involved in fake
recruitment job offers have lured Indian nationals mostly through social media channels to
South-East Asian countries including Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and made to carry out
cyber crime and other fraudulent activities from scam centres operating in these countries. The
exact number of Indian nationals stranded in these countries is not known as Indian nationals
reach these scam centres on their own volition through fraudulent/unscrupulous recruitment
agents/agencies and through illegal channels. With the concerted efforts of our Embassies in
Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, the number of Indian nationals rescued till date is mentioned
in the table below:
1S.No. Country No. of Indian Nationals rescued
2022 2023 2024 2025
1 Cambodia 44 207 982 1,300
2 Lao PDR 74 244 558 1,421
3 Myanmar 338 89 147 1,594
Government accords the utmost priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals
abroad. Government of India has raised this issue at political level with the host Government
from time to time. Missions/Posts take up the issue of rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals
actively with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned Government agencies of
the host country like Immigration, Labour Department, Home Affairs, Defence and Border
Affairs and law enforcement agencies.
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