Cambodia Cracks Down on Cybercrime: Over 1000 Arrested in Nationwide

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Phnom Penh — Cambodian authorities have arrested more than 1,000 individuals in a major coordinated operation targeting cyber-scam syndicates across the country, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The raids, which spanned several provinces including Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, and Bavet, mark one of the largest crackdowns on cybercrime in Southeast Asia’s recent history.

The suspects—many of whom were foreign nationals—were detained during joint raids on dozens of compounds allegedly operating illegal online scam centers. Cambodian police, with assistance from international agencies, dismantled operations accused of running fake investment platforms, romance scams, phishing schemes, and digital extortion networks.

“We have uncovered extensive human trafficking and forced labor linked to these cyber fraud rings,” said National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun. “Some detainees were victims themselves, lured with false promises of employment and then forced to work in scam compounds.”

Authorities reported that several of those rescued during the operation had been trafficked into Cambodia and were held against their will. Victims described being forced to work 12-hour shifts under constant surveillance, with physical threats used to enforce obedience.

International human rights groups have repeatedly raised alarms about criminal syndicates exploiting vulnerable migrants in Southeast Asia by trapping them in tech scam operations under inhumane conditions.

The crackdown follows months of international pressure, particularly from countries like China, Malaysia, and the Philippines, whose citizens were frequently found among the trafficked victims.

“We’re cooperating with international law enforcement to identify key ringleaders and ensure prosecution across borders,” said an Interior Ministry official.

Cambodia has pledged to tighten its cyber laws and crack down on complicit local officials who turn a blind eye to these operations.

The raids have thrown a spotlight on Sihanoukville, a coastal city that has become infamous for hosting illicit online gambling and cyber scam centers linked to transnational crime networks.

Cybersecurity experts warn that Southeast Asia is fast becoming a hotspot for cyber-enabled human trafficking, due to weak enforcement and high digital penetration.

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