Cambodia Says Nearly 3,000 Suspects Face Prosecution in Anti‑Scam Campaign

PHNOM PENH, July 27, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodian authorities say almost 3,000 suspects are facing prosecution after a year‑long nationwide crackdown on online fraud, with hundreds of casinos sanctioned and thousands of foreign nationals deported.

Chhay Sinarith, senior minister in charge of special missions and chairman of the Committee for Combating Technology‑Enabled Scams, presented the figures at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday.

According to the report, 268 cases involving 2,773 suspects have been referred to the courts. More than 2,200 remain in pretrial detention, including 353 women and 313 Cambodian nationals.

Authorities said they raided 665 locations linked to scam operations, sealing 537 permanently. Inspectors also examined 195 licensed casinos, revoking 19 licences, suspending 30 and noting that 23 had already ceased operations.

The campaign led to the deportation of 21,102 foreign nationals from 38 countries, most from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Officials said Cambodia cooperated with partners including China, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia, as well as ASEAN states and international organisations such as INTERPOL, UNODC and the Mekong–Lancang Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center.

The Law on Combating Technology‑Enabled Scams, which came into force on April 7, 2026, provides for penalties including life imprisonment, fines of up to one billion riel and confiscation of assets.

Prime Minister Hun Manet hailed the campaign as “a significant and noteworthy milestone” and instructed authorities to continue dismantling scam networks, saying the effort was vital to strengthening national security and the economy.