Thai Airstrikes Target Cambodian Scam Compounds, Risking Trafficking Victims

Thai military aircraft have bombed compounds in neighboring Cambodia. The Thai government says these sites house criminal gangs that force people to carry out online scams. The targets are large complexes, often described as "scam cities." People are trafficked into these compounds and forced to defraud people worldwide through internet romance and investment schemes. While Thailand calls the action an attack on organized crime, human rights groups warn of a deadly dilemma. They state that many inside the compounds are victims of trafficking, not criminals. Activists say the airstrikes put these vulnerable people at direct risk. Cambodia has not yet issued an official response to the military incursion into its territory. The cross-border operation marks a significant escalation in regional efforts to dismantle the multi-billion dollar online scam industry.