ASEAN Seeks Closer Cooperation to Curb Cross‑Border Crime and Fraud

SIEM REAP, June 24, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha urged ASEAN member states on Wednesday to intensify cooperation against online scams, transnational crime and terrorism, warning that immigration‑related offences pose growing threats across the region.

Opening the 29th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Directors‑General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs (DGICM) in Siem Reap, Sar Sokha said countries must act “with a strong sense of responsibility” to prevent and suppress criminal activities.

He noted that online scam operations have become a major challenge in recent years, prompting ASEAN to expand cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea under the DGICM framework to strengthen border management and immigration administration.

The minister called for greater information‑sharing among member states, alongside enhanced training and capacity‑building for officials, to bolster regional efforts against cross‑border crime.

Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, Director General of Immigration and chair of the 29th DGICM meeting, said the forum has grown into a vital platform for dialogue since its establishment in 1996.

He stressed that the mechanism has helped facilitate travel while reinforcing cooperation to combat immigration offences and transnational crime.

The Siem Reap meeting will review outstanding agenda items and new proposals from member states.

Six related meetings are scheduled, including the ASEAN Major Immigration Checkpoints Forum, the Human Smuggling Units meeting, the ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum, and consultations with Australia, China, Japan and South Korea. Several bilateral sessions are also expected on the sidelines.