Nearly 30,000 Arrested, 624 Sites Dismantled in Cambodia's Cyber Scam Crackdown

PHNOM PENH, August 28, 2026 – Cambodian authorities have arrested nearly 30,000 suspects and dismantled 624 illicit sites over the past year, marking one of the most extensive crackdowns on cyber scam operations in the region, according to a Ministry of Information report.

The update was presented to nearly 50 foreign diplomats and international organization representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 27 by Secretary of State Chhay Sinnarith, head of the Anti-Cyber Scam Committee.

Between July 2025 and August 20, 2026, authorities investigated 793 suspected locations, successfully cracking down on 624 sites. An additional 169 locations were found abandoned by fleeing criminals. More than 58,000 foreign nationals—including over 7,000 women—were repatriated, with 22,045 individuals from 38 nationalities directly linked to cyber scam operations.

Legal proceedings have been pursued against core offenders, with 408 cases sent to court. A total of 3,477 suspects from 29 nationalities are currently in pre-trial detention. Arrest warrants have been issued for an additional 855 suspects.

The Anti-Corruption Unit has taken action in four cases, detaining 15 suspects, including senior officials and law enforcement officers such as a deputy prosecutor, a deputy immigration director-general, a deputy police commissioner of Phnom Penh, and a former director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as several police and military officers.

The Commercial Gambling Management Commission has also shut down 27 casinos, revoked licenses from 18, and suspended 9 others, while enforcing strict measures against online gambling and sports betting.

Cambodia is also expediting the development of additional legal frameworks, including draft laws on cybersecurity, information technology crimes, and virtual asset regulation. The government will host an international conference on combating cyber scams on September 23–24, 2026.

— Source: Ministry of Information

https://www.information.gov.kh/articles/200519

Reported by The Khmer Today