Cambodia Reports 17% Crime Drop, Vows Tougher Crackdown on Online Scams in 2026

PHNOM PENH, Feb 6, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia recorded a 17 percent fall in overall crime last year, with authorities claiming a 96 percent success rate in suppression efforts, as the government pledged tougher action against online scams and transnational crime in 2026.

The figures were unveiled at the Ministry of Interior’s annual review conference on February 4–5 in Phnom Penh, opened by Interior Minister Sar Sokha and closed by Prime Minister Hun Manet, with around 800 senior officials in attendance.

Officials reported progress in tackling cyber fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal gambling and youth gangs. Ringleaders of online scam networks were arrested and foreign offenders deported in cooperation with partner countries.

For 2026, the ministry said it will intensify operations against cybercrime, narcotics, trafficking, traffic offenses and gang activity, while improving civil registration services, digital systems and public service delivery. Continued implementation of the Safe Village-Commune-Sangkat Policy and decentralization reforms were also highlighted.

Hun Manet urged firm action to “clean our house” of criminal activity, warning there would be no exceptions for officials implicated in wrongdoing, particularly cybercrime.

Authorities have already stepped up a nationwide campaign against technology-based fraud, raiding nearly 200 sites and detaining more than 2,500 suspects in the first month of operations, officials said Thursday.

Police reported 2,508 suspects of seven nationalities — including Chinese, Nepalese, Malaysian, Lao, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens — were detained. Several major criminal networks were dismantled, with ringleaders referred to the courts.

In the first nine months of 2025, police conducted 48 operations, sent 168 suspects to court and deported 2,722 foreigners. Earlier, alleged ringleader Chen Zhi and associates were arrested and deported to China following a months-long investigation.