75 Foreign Nationals Detained in Phnom Penh as Cambodia Steps Up Online Scam Crackdown

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian authorities have detained 75 foreign nationals in Phnom Penh as part of an intensified nationwide campaign targeting technology-based scam operations, officials said, underscoring the government’s growing effort to curb cybercrime networks operating across the country.

The detentions were carried out on January 16 during coordinated inspections led by the Phnom Penh Unified Command Committee, focusing on locations suspected of hosting online scam activities and individuals residing illegally in the capital.

Officials said the operation forms part of a broader national initiative aimed at dismantling cybercrime operations that have increasingly targeted victims both domestically and abroad.

Raids at Hotels and Guesthouses

Law enforcement officers conducted administrative inspections at two separate locations in Phnom Penh during the operation.

At the Seventh Heaven Hotel in the 7 Makara district, authorities detained 39 foreign nationals. Those held included 26 Pakistani nationals, 11 Indian nationals, and two individuals from Bangladesh, according to officials familiar with the operation.

A second inspection took place at the C8 Guesthouse in Sen Sok district, where officers detained 36 individuals. The group included 25 Indian nationals — four of whom were women — and 11 Bangladeshi nationals.

Authorities said the inspections were conducted in line with Sub-Decree No. 03 issued by the Royal Government of Cambodia, which regulates security and safety standards at residential buildings, hotels, and other congregated locations.

Part of Wider National Campaign

Officials stressed that the Phnom Penh operation was not an isolated case, but rather part of a sustained nationwide crackdown on technology-related crimes.

Over the previous week, from January 11 to January 16, authorities carried out similar operations at four locations across the country — two in Phnom Penh and two in Battambang province. Those raids resulted in the detention of 123 suspects, including nine women.

The suspects detained during that period included 46 Chinese nationals, four of whom were women, one Lao woman, 36 Indian nationals including four women, 13 Bangladeshi nationals, and 27 Pakistani nationals, according to official figures.

Growing Scale of Cybercrime Raids

Data released by the Secretariat of the Committee for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC) indicates that enforcement efforts have expanded significantly since the start of the year.

Between January 1 and January 16, authorities conducted raids at 14 locations nationwide, spanning Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap provinces. During that period, a total of 162 suspects of various nationalities were detained.

Those detained included 50 Chinese nationals, 32 South Koreans, one Lao national, 36 Indians — including four women — 13 Bangladeshis, 27 Pakistanis, and three Nepalese nationals.

Officials said the case involving the three Nepalese suspects has entered the judicial process. The Siem Reap Provincial Court has issued temporary detention orders as investigations continue and legal proceedings move forward.

Zero Tolerance for Scam Networks

Cambodian authorities have repeatedly stated that online scam operations pose a serious threat to national security, public safety, and Cambodia’s international reputation. Many of these schemes are believed to involve sophisticated technology, cross-border criminal networks, and victims located outside the country.

Officials emphasized that under the ongoing nationwide anti-scam campaign, law enforcement agencies have been instructed to apply the strictest legal measures available against both ringleaders and participants involved in technology-based scam activities.

“There will be no exceptions,” authorities said, signaling a zero-tolerance approach as investigations expand.

The government has pledged to continue inspections, arrests, and prosecutions as part of its efforts to dismantle cybercrime operations and prevent Cambodia from being used as a base for international scam networks.

As enforcement actions widen, officials said additional operations are expected in the coming weeks, with authorities maintaining close coordination across provincial and national levels to combat technology-based crimes.