Cambodia Deports 635 Thai Nationals in Major Crackdown on Cross-Border Online Crime Networks

POIPET, April 30, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has deported 635 Thai nationals linked to illegal online operations and suspected transnational crime networks, in one of the country’s largest recent crackdowns on cross-border cybercrime, authorities said Thursday.

The group was expelled through the Poipet International Border Gate in Banteay Meanchey province on Wednesday after officials completed legal procedures in accordance with Cambodian law. The operation was carried out in coordination with Thai counterparts, underscoring growing bilateral efforts to tackle cross-border criminal activity.

An additional 30 suspects are being held in Cambodia and are undergoing further legal proceedings for alleged offenses committed during the operation.

The deportations followed a raid on April 25 by a joint task force led by Cambodia’s National Police, with procedural oversight from provincial prosecutors, targeting a condominium complex in Poipet city near the Thai border.

Authorities said the site was suspected of hosting illegal online business activities, including online gambling operations and other activities potentially linked to transnational criminal networks.

Preliminary findings revealed what officials described as an industrial-scale setup. Law enforcement seized 4,685 mobile phones, 416 computer monitors, and a range of other electronic equipment believed to have been used in the operations.

A review of the confiscated devices uncovered multiple online gambling platforms primarily targeting customers in Thailand, suggesting the operation was designed to reach users across the border.

The crackdown highlights Cambodia’s intensifying efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks operating in border areas, particularly those exploiting digital platforms to run illegal gambling and scam-related activities.