Over 1600 Indian nationals repatriated as govt intensifies crackdown on cyber trafficking in South East Asia

New Delhi, Aug 09:   Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, while addressing the growing concern of cyber trafficking in SouthEast Asia, where Indian nationals are being misled and forced to work in cyber scams. "We take this very, very seriously and have taken it up with the concerned governments at a political level."

So far, the government has successfully repatriated 650 Indian nationals from Cambodia, 415 from Myanmar, and 548 from Laos.

"This is an issue that requires constant vigilance and a hard crackdown. We have attached a state-wise list of cases from the last three years, detailing the actions taken and the status of legal proceedings," the Minister added.

Cyber trafficking in Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant concern, with criminal networks exploiting vulnerable individuals for illegal activities from different countries.

Victims often lured with false promises of legitimate jobs, are coerced into participating in cyber scams, including online fraud, identity theft, and other illicit operations. This growing trend has raised alarms among governments in the region, as the sophisticated nature of these schemes makes it difficult to track and dismantle the networks involved.

The situation has prompted a strong response from affected countries, with increased collaboration at both the regional and international levels.

Efforts are being made to crack down on these cyber trafficking rings, repatriate victims, and strengthen cybersecurity measures to prevent such crimes.

Despite these efforts, the challenge remains formidable, requiring continuous vigilance and cooperation to protect citizens and bring perpetrators to justice.