Massive Sweep Across 8 Provinces

From January 1 to early February 2026, Cambodian law enforcement agencies executed raids at 190 high-risk locations. The operation specifically targeted the industry’s hubs, including 44 casinos across a wide geographic range:

• Coastal & Border Zones: Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Svay Rieng.
• Central Hubs: Phnom Penh and Kandal.
• Remote Frontiers: Pursat, Prey Veng, and Mondulkiri.

The sweep resulted in the detention of 2,508 suspects from seven nations, including Nepal, China, Malaysia, Laos, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This demonstrates the increasingly diverse and international nature of the syndicates operating within the region.

The Great Exodus: 110,000 Foreigners Depart

The intensity of the crackdown has triggered a massive voluntary departure of foreign nationals. The CCOS reported that 110,095 individuals—primarily from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—left Cambodia between January and early February 2026.

This exodus suggests that the government’s aggressive stance is successfully dismantling the “safe haven” environment that previously attracted these illicit entities.

International Cooperation and Legal Weight

The CCOS attributed these successes to a new level of intelligence sharing and operational synergy with global partners, including China, the United States, and South Korea. This collaborative approach has yielded high-impact legal results over the past eight months:

• 37 major cases successfully prosecuted.
• 172 ringleaders and key accomplices convicted.
• 9,314 foreign nationals deported for their involvement in illegal activities.

Restoring National Reputation and Investor Trust

For foreign investors and the international business community, this sustained momentum is a vital signal of Cambodia’s commitment to the rule of law. By cleansing the business environment of “call center” gangs and human trafficking hubs, the government is:

1. Protecting the FinTech Sector: Reducing the risk of financial fraud and money laundering.
2. Securing Digital Infrastructure: Ensuring the Kingdom’s internet and telecommunications networks are used for legitimate commerce.
3. Enhancing Human Rights: Eliminating the forced labor and trafficking rings that often fuel these scam operations.

FAQ: The 2026 Online Scam Crackdown

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This renewed commitment came during a meeting on November 12 between H.E. Santepundit Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister and Chairman of the group fighting online scams (CCOS), and H.E. UENO Atsushi, the Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia.

Cambodia Thanks Japan for Support

H.E. Santepundit Chhay Sinarith sincerely thanked the government and people of Japan for their long-term, strong support in many areas of Cambodia’s growth. This includes improving the economy and society, developing skills in people, building infrastructure, and clearing landmines.

He stressed that working together on security—especially fighting technology-based fraud—has become a critical part of the Cambodia-Japan partnership. This cooperation helps keep things peaceful, secure, and stable in the region and globally.

The Senior Minister restated that the Cambodian government is fully committed to stopping, fighting, and completely ending online and technology-based fraud. He welcomed working with all international partners to solve this problem, pointing out that cyber fraud is a global issue that is getting more complicated.

He emphasized that to truly tackle it, all countries need to collaborate on:

1. In-depth research (to understand the schemes better).
2. Strengthening operational capacity (to improve how they catch criminals).
3. Boosting public awareness (to teach citizens how to avoid being tricked).

Japan Praises Cambodia’s Efforts

In response, Ambassador UENO Atsushi highly praised the Cambodian government and its police for their hard work and clear actions against technology-based fraud. He noted that Cambodia’s recent creation of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) clearly shows the government’s strong commitment to solving this urgent problem. He also congratulated the CCOS on the progress it has made so far.

The Ambassador also thanked the Cambodian authorities for their quick help in cases involving Japanese citizens. Recognizing that technology-based fraud is complex and often crosses borders, he confirmed that Japan is ready to continue offering support and working together in this vital security area.

Next Steps for Collaboration

Both sides wrapped up the meeting by agreeing to strengthen cooperation between the CCOS and the Japanese Embassy through specific plans, including:

• Training Programs: To help improve the skills of those fighting crime.
• Sharing Information: For faster joint investigations and research.
• Public Campaigns: To raise awareness and teach people how to protect themselves from cyber fraud.

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