AKP Phnom Penh, January 19, 2026 --

Through concrete and practical cooperation with China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and other partner countries, Cambodia has taken strong action against online scams and other forms of cross-border crime, including the recent arrest and extradition of a well-known suspect, Chen Zhi, to China.

In an interview with foreign media last week, H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stressed that international cooperation is crucial in combating online scams and other transnational crimes.

With cross-border crimes such as online scams on the rise, Cambodia urgently needs effective cooperation with partner countries, he said, adding that the Chen Zhi case reflects Cambodia’s firm commitment to this collective effort.

As online scams pose a transnational threat, Cambodia has prioritised expanding partnerships with foreign law enforcement agencies to track, suppress, and prosecute criminal syndicates operating across borders.

H.E. Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister in Charge of Special Missions and Chairman of the Secretariat of the Ad-hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), also underscored the importance of international cooperation during a recent discussion with British Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Dominic Williams. He noted that close collaboration is essential to eradicate organised, technology-driven crimes.

Regarding modern forms of crime, H.E. Ms. Eui-hae Cecilia Chung, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Republic of Korea, has previously shared insights on the growing challenge of online scams in the ASEAN region and the need to strengthen cooperation to address the issue.

Speaking to a group of visiting ASEAN journalists in November last year, H.E. Ms. Eui-hae Cecilia Chung said close cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea is vital in tackling such complex challenges.

“We need to really strengthen our cooperation and see how we can work together better. We need to keep engaging with each other,” she underlined.

In the same context, following the extradition of Chen Zhi to China, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security stated that the operation was made possible through the support and cooperation of Cambodian authorities, marking another significant milestone in law enforcement collaboration between the two countries.

According to CCOS, from Jan. 1 to 10, 2026, competent 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 linked to alleged online scam activities.

According to the Secretariat of the Ad-hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), from June 2025 to Jan. 10, 2026, Cambodian authorities carried out enforcement operations at 118 suspected crime locations across 18 capitals and provinces, resulting in the arrest of 4,983 suspects of 23 nationalities.

Started from January 1 to January 16, 2026, authorities across the country cracked down on a total of 14 locations in Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap, A total of 162 suspects were arrested, including 50 Chinese, 32 South Koreans, 1 Laotian, 36 Indians (4 women), 13 Bangladeshis, 27 Pakistanis, and 3 Nepalese.

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

By Heng Panha