Hanoi, March 28 -- Cambodian authorities reported on March 27 that the country intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation last year, recording 197 cases, an increase of 20% compared to 164 cases in the previous year.

Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Permanent Vice Chair of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), said that law enforcement agencies arrested 273 suspects, including 30 foreign nationals, and rescued 523 victims.

She highlighted the alarming rise in child trafficking and sexual exploitation, both online and offline. Among the rescued victims, 230 were minors under 18, accounting for nearly 44% of the total.

Human trafficking cases in Cambodia are of...