The authorities deported 1,533 foreign nationals from 63 countries last year over various offences, according to a report presented during the General Department of Immigration Congress on Thursday.

The report, tabled during the congress to review last year’s work and set plans for 2020, showed that the 1,013 Chinese nationals who were deported, topped the list of foreigners who committed crimes and were sent home.

They were followed by Thais (220), Vietnamese (149), Nigerians (94), Indians (31), South Koreans (25) and Americans (17).

The crimes foreigners committed included extortion, online gambling, passport breaches, visa breaches and drug crimes.

“Cambodia is no different from other countries in the region and other developed countries. The presence of illegal aliens always emerges.

“Cases including entry into the Kingdom without legal paperwork, staying without passports, exceeding visa limits and escaping legal punishment in other countries,” it said.

It noted that 890 people were deported for online gambling, which has been banned in the Kingdom. Others were sent back for not having passports (242), expired visas (126) and drug crimes (200).http://https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/over-1500-foreigners-deported-last-year