Cambodia Intensifies Crackdown on Online Scams, Arrests Over 2,100

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Authorities in Cambodia have escalated their efforts to combat online scam operations, leading to the arrest of over 2,100 individuals since June 27, 2025. This intensified campaign, announced by Information Minister Neth Pheaktra, reflects a broader governmental push against cybercrime, which has drawn international scrutiny.

The recent crackdown resulted in the detainment of at least 500 suspects across two provinces, specifically in Kandal, near the capital Phnom Penh, and Stung Treng, in the northeast of the country. The total arrests since the beginning of this operation have reached 2,137, according to Minister Pheaktra's statement on July 18, 2025. Among those apprehended, a diverse array of foreign nationals was identified, including 429 Vietnamese, 271 Indonesians, 589 Chinese, and smaller groups from Korea, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

The United Nations and various other agencies have reported that cyber scams predominantly originating from Southeast Asia are generating billions of dollars for international criminal organizations. These scams often involve deceitful practices where perpetrators feign friendship or promote bogus investment opportunities to swindle victims globally. As stated by Minister Pheaktra, the ongoing crackdown is backed by a clear directive from Prime Minister Hun Manet, emphasizing a stringent no-tolerance policy towards cybercrime, including threats of job loss for state personnel failing to act.

This latest operation follows a series of earlier arrests, with 2,418 individuals detained during the first half of 2025 alone, resulting in 73 prosecutions and the deportation of over 2,300 foreign nationals involved in these illicit activities. Reports indicate that many workers in these scam centers are lured with false promises of employment and are subsequently held captive, subjected to coercion to carry out scams under duress.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have highlighted the dire conditions faced by these workers, describing them as being forced into labor camps run by organized crime groups. They allege there may be complicity between law enforcement and crime syndicates, with claims of police failing to shut down these operations despite documented human rights abuses.

Am Sam Ath, operations director of Licadho, a prominent Cambodian human rights organization, expressed support for the government's intensified measures, noting the need for such action due to Cambodia's tarnished image regarding cybercrime. "This campaign should have been launched long ago. The international community has criticized Cambodia for online fraud, affecting tourism and investment, as well as social security," he stated, acknowledging the necessity of restoring trust.

The crackdown dovetails with a regional trend among Southeast Asian nations to address cybercrime more aggressively in 2025. The implications of such a campaign could be significant, potentially improving Cambodia's international standing and fostering greater security and order within its borders.

As this campaign progresses, its impact will be closely monitored. Observers will watch for potential shifts in Cambodia's law enforcement strategies and the long-term effectiveness of these measures in curbing the rampant issue of online scams.