Phnom penh: Three South Korean nationals who were held captive at a scam center in Cambodia have been rescued by local police after a request from a ruling party lawmaker, officials reported Saturday. The men, all in their 20s, had been detained for approximately two months before being freed by law enforcement.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the operation was initiated following the intervention of Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the ruling Democratic Party. Kim, who leads the party’s task force focused on the safety of overseas South Koreans, shared details during a press briefing at the South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Kim explained that the individuals were enticed to Cambodia through acquaintances or online job advertisements that promised lucrative employment opportunities. Upon arrival, they were coerced into participating in romance scams starting in August.

The rescue mission was triggered after Kim received a distress call on Wednesday from the mother of one of the victims, who reported her son as missing. Acting on this information, Kim requested a police search of the suspected location where the individuals were believed to be held.

Local authorities conducted a raid on the compound, successfully rescuing the three South Koreans. However, the perpetrators had already escaped the scene before law enforcement arrived, as noted by Kim.