AKP Phnom Penh, February 01, 2026 —

Cambodian national police have detained more than 2,000 foreign nationals following a large-scale raid on a major online fraud syndicate operating out of a casino complex in the border town of Bavet, authorities confirmed Sunday.

The operation, launched on Jan. 31, targeted casino compound (A7) in Svay Rieng province. A team of approximately 700 specialised officers, coordinated with provincial prosecutors, swept 22 buildings within the complex suspected of housing sophisticated cybercrime operations.

H.E. General Sar Thet, National Police Commissioner General, stated that the operation resulted in the detention of 2,044 foreigners.

The breakdown of nationalities involved includes: China: 1,792; Vietnam: 177 ; Myanmar: 179; India: 36; Nepal: 30; Others: Individuals from Taiwan, Malaysia, Laos, and Mexico.

The raid marks a significant escalation in Cambodia’s campaign against regional cyber-fraud centres, which have drawn international scrutiny over human trafficking and forced labour.

H.E. Touch Sokhak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, emphasised that the crackdown reflects the unwavering stance of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s administration. He dismissed any suggestion that current regional border tensions would distract the Royal Government from domestic security.

"I want to state clearly, echoing the words of [Senate President] Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen: Cambodia is not a safe haven for criminals; it is a hell for criminals," he said.

The operation follows the establishment of a dedicated national committee to combat online scams in February 2025, chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet.

The Ministry of Interior reported that in the first nine months of 2025, Cambodian authorities conducted 48 major operations, resulting in 168 court referrals and the deportation of 2,722 individuals. This momentum continued into January 2026 with the high-profile arrest and extradition to China of a suspected ringleader, Chen Zhi, and his associates.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H.E. Abhisantibindit Sar Sokha has reportedly placed online scam suppression among the ministry’s top six priorities. In a stern warning to his own ministry, he stated that any official found complicit in or negligent toward these crimes would face immediate dismissal and legal prosecution.

Authorities indicated that Cambodia is increasingly sharing intelligence with regional and international law enforcement partners to dismantle the cross-border networks that facilitate these multi-billion-dollar fraud schemes.

By K. Rithy Reak