A Chinese crime syndicate has trapped 100,000 individuals from Asia, compelling them to partake in both crypto-related and cyber fraud activities.
In Brief
Chinese organized crime groups are ensnaring 100,000 individuals in Cambodia, drawing them into illicit cryptocurrency activities.
With promises of high-paying jobs, these crime groups have brought in a massive number of individuals from around Asia to Cambodia. Sadly, upon their arrival, their passports are confiscated, and they are forced to work in grueling conditions, all while engaging in cybercriminal activities.
According to The Los Angeles Times The Cambodian economy, which has suffered significantly due to the pandemic, has inadvertently enabled Chinese organized crime to operate extensive cyber fraud schemes, a situation that continues largely unchecked due to the benefits it brings to the country. These illicit activities include phone scams, fake sports betting, misleading investments, and various cryptocurrency frauds.
While the Cambodian authorities acknowledge the involvement of 100,000 individuals in these criminal activities, they claim that these people are not being held against their will but are instead embroiled in what they term \"contract disputes.\" Following international outcry, the government reluctantly conducted raids on some operations.
Rescued victims have described their experiences at the hands of criminals as akin to slavery, recounting instances of beatings and torture for failing to meet expectations, and being sold to rival gangs.
Jacob Sims, the regional director of Justice International Mission Cambodia, which has aided in rescuing many captives, reported that hostages were subjected to humiliations like forced push-ups, electric shocks, starvation, and confinement in dark spaces. In contrast, those who performed well were rewarded with privileges such as extra food, cash, and sway over their fellow captives.
In recent months, international attention on these criminal operations has intensified, leading to the United States downgrading Cambodia's status on its human trafficking index to the lowest tier.
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