AKP Phnom Penh, January 12, 2026 --

Cambodian authorities have intensified their crackdown on online fraud, arresting 39 foreign nationals during the first ten days of the year, according to the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS).

CCOS reported that from Jan. 1 to 10, 2026, law enforcement authorities conducted operations at seven locations—six in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap—leading to the arrest of 39 foreign suspects, including 32 South Koreans, four Chinese, and three Nepalese nationals. Authorities also seized evidence related to the alleged online scam activities.

From June 2025 to Jan. 10, 2026, Cambodian authorities carried out enforcement actions at 118 suspected crime locations across 18 capital and provinces, resulting in the arrest of 4,983 suspects of 23 nationalities, CCOS said.

During the same period, authorities deported 4,039 illegal immigrants, prosecuted 35 major cases, and secured convictions against 168 alleged ringleaders, the commission added.

Among those arrested was Chen Zhi, Founder of the Prince Group, whose assets have reportedly been seized by the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and South Korea. He has been accused of being a major ringleader in alleged forced labour linked to online scam networks and has since been transferred to China for further legal proceedings.

By Heng Panha