Cambodia Emerges as Primary Destination for Brazilian Human Trafficking Victims

Cambodia has become the primary destination for Brazilian victims of human trafficking in 2025, accounting for 44 of the 84 cases recorded by the Ministry of Justice under the Standard Operating Protocol for the Care of Victims of International Trafficking in Persons. This represents a 33 percent increase in total cases compared to the previous year. According to reports, victims are lured by false promises of well paid work, with some offers reaching 4,000 US dollars for 12 hours of work per day. Upon arrival, victims are often forced into slave labor within scam complexes where they are coerced into conducting electronic fraud. Survivors report that their passports are seized and they are forced to sign contracts that create unpayable debts for food, travel, and housing. Those who resist or fail to meet quotas face surveillance, public humiliation, and torture, including punches and electric shocks. The city of Poipet, located on the border with Thailand, is identified as a major hub for these operations. A new investigative series titled Carga Humana explores these routes and the experiences of survivors in cities such as Phnom Penh, Poipet, and Sihanoukville.