Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhon has asked the Cambodian Embassy in Indonesia to intervene and rescue 18 Cambodian fishermen detained there, as they are believed to be victims of human trafficking.

In a press statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said the 18 had been caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters while on a Thai boat under the name KM JHF 6525.

Sounry said the minister appealed to Cambodia’s ambassador in Indonesia to examine their health and their detention conditions, and also appealed to Indonesia to release the men, who had fallen prey to traffickers in Thailand.

The International Organisation for Migration is cooperating with Indonesian and local authorities to repatriate the trafficked fishermen.