PHNOM PENH, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia cracked down on 197 human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases in 2024, up 20 percent from 164 cases in the previous year, a senior official said on Thursday.

Interior Ministry's Secretary of State Chou Bun Eng, who is also permanent vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), said the authorities arrested a total of 273 suspects, including 30 foreigners, last year and rescued 523 victims.

"There was a remarkable increase in the trafficking or sexual exploitation of children, both in person and online, with up to 230 minor victims under the age of 18, equivalent to 43.97 percent of the total number of the victims," she said at the NCCT's annual conference.

Bun Eng said human trafficking cases were linked to crimes of fraud, labor disputes, illegal work, and illegal immigration, among others.

She added that the government would continue to do its best to eliminate all forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to enhance the respect for human rights, dignity and social justice.

Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a public speech last month that the Southeast Asian country was not a base for kidnapping, online crime, or human trafficking, vowing to crack down on all types of these offences. Enditem

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