Cambodia Cracks Down on Online Scam Networks

In a series of coordinated operations conducted on April 6 and 7, Cambodian authorities dismantled at least four online scam centers in three provinces, arresting hundreds of foreigners. This offensive aligns with the Royal Government's promise to provide "no refuge" for transnational criminal networks, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Simultaneous Raids in Phnom Penh, Kep, and Banteay Meanchey

The operations, supervised by Prime Minister Hun Manet, targeted Phnom Penh, Banteay Meanchey province, and Kep province. According to a statement from Kampuchea Presse Agency (AKP) dated April 8, 2026, these actions mark an acceleration of the national crackdown on cross-border cyberfraud.

In Phnom Penh on April 6, a first raid targeted a residential complex in the Sen Sok district. Law enforcement arrested 218 foreign nationals. Searches yielded over 170 computers, nearly 400 mobile phones, various IT equipment, as well as police uniforms and fake Japanese identity documents.

Preliminary analysis of digital evidence reveals multiple scams: impersonation of Japanese police to trap Japanese victims, romance scams, and investment frauds targeting Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

The same day, a second assault in the same district led to the arrest of 27 suspects in residential buildings. Authorities confiscated dozens of laptops, over 200 phones, and related equipment. Investigations continue under the supervision of the Phnom Penh prosecutor's office.

On April 7 in Kep, 14 foreigners were apprehended in a rental property suspected of housing online scam activities. The suspects and evidence were transferred to the provincial police station. Finally, in Banteay Meanchey province, a casino-hotel in Poipet was searched, leading to the detention of 139 people. Investigators discovered dozens of electronic devices on the ground floor used for cyberfraud, while the upper floors served as living quarters.

Tally of Anti-Cybercrime Operations in 2026

These raids bring the total to 398 arrests across these four April operations. For the whole of 2026 (up to April 8), authorities have conducted over 20 major raids, resulting in approximately 5,200 arrests of foreign suspects—mainly Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian—and the seizure of over 15,000 computers and 50,000 phones. Nearly 30 extraditions have been carried out to China and Japan. This tally reflects a 40% intensification compared to 2025, according to official figures.

A Strengthened Fight Against a Regional Scourge

These dismantlements illustrate Cambodia's escalating efforts against cybercrime that has turned the kingdom into a hub for international scams. According to a 2023 United Nations report on human trafficking in Southeast Asia, Cambodia—particularly Poipet and Sihanoukville—then hosted "fraudulent call centers" employing up to 100,000 forced laborers, often foreigners, for scams generating billions of dollars (UN, TRIFFIN report, October 2023). The government under Hun Manet, in power since 2023, has ramped up operations: over 4,000 arrests in 2024 and extraditions to China and Vietnam, as announced by the Ministry of Interior.

Cambodian authorities promise judicial proceedings and potential additional arrests. This firmness responds to international pressure, particularly from Japan and the United States, which have labeled these networks a "global threat."