Police Chief Vows to “Clean Cambodia” of Online Scams as Mass Arrests Mount

PHNOM PENH, Feb 6, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s National Police Chief Sar Thet has pledged an intensified campaign to “clean Cambodia” of online scam crimes, following a series of large-scale operations that led to thousands of arrests and deportations of foreign suspects.

Speaking on Friday at the Interior Ministry, Gen. Thet said online scam networks have continued to expand, prompting the government to broaden responsibility and step up suppression efforts nationwide.

He described the latest campaign as a reflection of the government’s firm determination to eradicate the crime, noting that Cambodia’s actions have drawn praise from both domestic and international observers.

The police chief emphasized that authorities must strengthen operations further to eliminate the crime completely and strictly implement government directives to safeguard Cambodia’s future.

In one major operation, the National Police deployed about 700 specialized officers and arrested 2,044 foreign suspects linked to online scams. Those detained included 1,792 Chinese nationals, 177 Vietnamese, 179 from Myanmar, 36 Indians, 30 Nepalis, five from Chinese Taipei, two Laotians, one Malaysian and one Mexican.

According to Interior Ministry data, in the first nine months of 2025 authorities carried out 48 operations against online scams, sent 168 suspects to court and deported 2,722 foreign offenders in cooperation with overseas authorities.