Vietnam's authorities successfully repatriated 59 citizens who were illegally employed in various roles, including entertainment venues and scam operations in Cambodia. This repatriation occurred on January 30, 2026, at the Tan Nam International Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province, where the Vietnamese citizens were handed over by officials from Cambodia. Among those repatriated were 42 men and 17 women, hailing from 23 different provinces across Vietnam. It was indicated that many of these individuals had travelled to Cambodia after responding to enticing job offers on social media, lured by promises of employment. Once in Cambodia, it became evident that some crossed the border legally, while others entered the country without the proper documentation. While in Cambodia, they took on roles primarily as service workers or attendants, engaging in jobs at karaoke bars, restaurants, and hotels located in Phnom Penh and Svay Rieng. Disturbingly, several members of the group also became involved in operations linked to online fraud and scam networks, which have been notorious for exploiting individuals under slave-like conditions. Vietnamese officials noted that 27 of the repatriated citizens had left Vietnam illegally, and out of these, one individual was already wanted by police in Ha Tinh Province due to prior criminal activity. As part of the aftermath of their return, border guards administered fines to 23 individuals for not completing necessary immigration procedures upon exiting Vietnam. Following their processing, all returned citizens received support and supervision from their local authorities as per established regulations, aimed at reintegrating them back into their communities. In a separate but related issue, officials have been investigating a specific compound located in O’Smach, Cambodia, near the Thai border, which recently served as a notorious scam center. This location has been associated with various fraudulent operations and was secured by Thai troops during recent clashes with Cambodian forces in December. The abandoned buildings there contained equipment and various documents related to scam operations that had reportedly defrauded individuals from multiple countries out of billions of dollars. Evidence collected from the site indicated a well-organized scam operation, employing sophisticated tactics to deceive victims worldwide, reflecting the urgency for authorities to address these international scams and protect their citizens from similar predicaments in the future.