Cambodia Intensifies Crackdown on Transnational Fraud Networks
In a significant escalation against organised crime, Cambodian authorities have sealed off almost 200 scam centres in recent weeks as part of a major police operation targeting sophisticated transnational fraud networks. The crackdown, which began late last year following substantial international pressure, represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to dismantle these criminal enterprises that have victimised individuals across the globe.
Massive Scale of Operation Revealed
Chhay Sinarith, a senior minister and chair of Cambodia's Commission for Combating Online Scams, confirmed to Reuters in Phnom Penh that approximately 190 locations have now been sealed off by authorities. The operation has resulted in the arrest of 173 senior crime figures directly linked to these fraudulent centres, alongside the deportation of an astonishing 11,000 workers who were employed within these facilities.
This campaign follows significant international action, including a United States indictment and China's extradition of a China-born alleged scam kingpin, marking the strongest coordinated move against these criminal networks to date. The crackdown has exposed what Amnesty International has described as a "humanitarian crisis," with thousands of scam workers—many of whom are victims of human trafficking held in brutal conditions—fleeing these compounds in recent weeks in desperate attempts to return home.
Inside the Elaborate Scam Operations
During a government-organised visit to a sprawling complex in Kampot province, journalists observed the sophisticated infrastructure supporting these fraudulent activities. Large work rooms contained numerous computer stations alongside detailed documents outlining methods to defraud Thai victims specifically. The facility featured dedicated studio booths for conducting phone calls and even included a fabricated Indian police station, highlighting the elaborate and multinational nature of these scams.
Authorities confirmed that no arrests were made inside the Kampot casino complex known as My Casino. Workers fled en masse following the detention of alleged boss and tycoon Ly Kuong, whose contact details were not immediately available. Police acknowledged they lacked sufficient manpower to detain those leaving, with Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmothurith explaining: "We have only about 1,000 policemen in the entire province and there are about 300 military policemen. Even with both forces combined, we still can't stop them because there were about 6,000 to 7,000 of them when they left this place."
International Context and Historical Challenges
The visit occurred just one week after Thai officials led media and foreign delegates to inspect a separate compound located in Cambodian territory that Thai troops had bombed and occupied during a border conflict in December. Reuters discovered similar materials at this location, including fake police stations from multiple countries alongside extensive documentation of fraudulent operations.
Cambodia has historically downplayed the existence of scam compounds within its borders, and previous crackdowns have proven largely ineffective at curbing their proliferation. Officials now assert that the latest campaign represents a broader and more determined effort, focusing specifically on permanently closing operational sites and detaining senior figures within these criminal networks. This represents a marked shift in strategy from previous approaches that failed to address the root structures enabling these transnational fraud operations to flourish.
