PHNOM PENH – Authorities raided a house in Borey Peng Huoth on March 17, 2026, under the leadership of Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng. House No. 14 inside The Star Platinum (Mergarien) was found to be linked to an online scam operation.
During the inspection, authorities discovered and detained 19 individuals, all Chinese nationals.
Inside the property, officers seized the following items:
- 123 mobile phones
- 1 laptop computer
- 1 CPU tower
- 8 All-in-One desktop computers
- 2 monitors
- 4 Chinese police-style caps
- 3 Chinese police-style uniforms with gold insignia
- 3 dark green trousers
- 3 light green fabric shirts
- 1 dark green belt
Authorities stated that the suspects were using Cambodia as a base to operate online scams. The operation allegedly involved impersonation and forged documents, including posing as Chinese law enforcement officers to threaten and defraud victims in China.
The case is under further investigations while the suspects are now facing legal proceedings.
Online scams have increasingly become a regional concern. According to a report released by the General Department of Immigration on March 16, 2026, a total of 1,420 foreign nationals involved in online scam cases were deported from Cambodia within a five-day period.
Following directives from Deputy Prime Minister and of Interior Minister Sar Sokha, and senior Interior Ministry leadership, Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, Director General of the General Department of Immigration, instructed investigation and enforcement units to accelerate deportation procedures.
Between March 11 and March 15, 2026, authorities deported 1,420 individuals, including 169 women.
The deported individuals represented 23 nationalities, including:
Uganda, Kenya, India, China, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Congo, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cameroon, the United States, Taiwan (China), Bangladesh, South Korea, and Laos.
Among them, Chinese nationals were deported in two major groups:
- First group: 335 individuals
- Second group: 500 individuals
All were linked to online scam operations.
The deportations were conducted via special flights through Techo International Airport Immigration Police Post. Some individuals were also involved in illegal border crossings, overstaying without passports, using fake visas (including fake QR codes), online fraud, and unauthorized employment in Cambodia.
Authorities emphasized that these deportations reflect the Royal Government of Cambodia’s firm legal measures to combat and eliminate technology-based crimes and online scam networks.
