Oman has deported 20 Nepalis, including a woman, for cybercrime. Eleven returned on Thursday, seven are scheduled for Monday, and two still await confirmed flights.

The Royal Oman Police arrested them in Sohar on March 10.

A local court sentenced most of them to six months in prison with a fine of 300 Omani rials each, while two received six months’ imprisonment and a 600-rial fine.

Investigations found the group used digital platforms to scam people with fake jobs, online investments, and social media schemes. The Royal Oman Police, in coordination with international agencies, tracked and busted the gang.

The police said the fraudsters targeted Nepalis and other Asian nationals in the Gulf using fake bank websites, messaging apps, and crypto trading platforms. On arriving in Oman, their passports were confiscated, and they were trained to carry out scams posing as online customer service or investment advisors.

The Nepali embassy in Muscat and the Non-Resident Nepali Social Club in Oman coordinated with authorities to secure their deportation. They were held in a prison in Sohar, about 300 km from Muscat.

Suresh Khadka, chair of the NRN Social Club, said that families first reported missing members, prompting the search.

“They were held in Sohar prison after arriving in Oman on visit visas via Dubai. A Chinese company had recruited them, but they became part of a fraud network. During raids, authorities arrested 257 people, including 20 Nepalis,” he said.

Dewan Khadka, central member of the club in Sohar, helped coordinate communication between the embassy, families, and prisoners. “I helped them stay in regular contact with their families and coordinated with the embassy,” he said.