AKP Phnom Penh, September 26, 2025 --

The Cambodian National Police has expressed disappointment over remarks made by Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police, published by the Thai newspaper The Standard. The comments, it stressed, were not in line with the spirit of the first bilateral meeting held on Sept. 16, 2025.

On Sept. 25, 2025, The Standard quoted Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot as saying, while leading a delegation of international police to observe online scam operations along the Chanthaburi-Pailin border, that he had already provided Cambodia with detailed information on the groups’ locations and expected the Cambodian side to present an action plan at the next meeting later this month.

In response, the Cambodian National Police clarified that it had received only preliminary intelligence, consisting of location images and Google Maps data that are publicly available. Cambodian experts had since identified a number of priority targets for investigation and had twice contacted Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot after the first meeting in Sa Kaeo province, requesting additional information and evidence necessary to carry out operations in line with Cambodia’s legal procedures. To date, however, Cambodia has not received any response beyond assurances that the information would be “provided.”

According to the Cambodian National Police, the Sept. 16 meeting concluded with an agreement to hold a second meeting on Sept. 26, 2025 to review the draft action plan for cooperation in combating cross-border crimes, including cybercrime and human trafficking. While Cambodia was ready to host the meeting, the Thai side requested a postponement, first via the Royal Thai Police attaché at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh on Sept. 24, 2025, and then officially on Sept. 26 at 15:50.

“Nevertheless, the Royal Government of Cambodia, along with the Ministry of Interior and the General Commissariat of National Police, remains strongly committed to combating cybercrime in full compliance with Cambodian law. Cambodian authorities will continue to take action against confirmed targets based on verified intelligence or through international cooperation when sufficient evidence and leads are available,” the Cambodian National Police concluded.

By C. Nika