AKP Phnom Penh, February 05, 2026 --

Senior officials from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have commended the Royal Government of Cambodia’s intensifying campaign against online scams, marking a significant endorsement of the Kingdom's efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

In a high-level meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Scott Schelble, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s International Operations Division, met with H.E. Santepundit Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister and Head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS).

The discussion centred on the "tangible results" achieved under the CCOS mechanism – a specialised body chaired by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.

Mr. Schelble noted that recent enforcement actions serve as a clear signal that Cambodia is not a sanctuary for cyber-fraud syndicates.

"Cyber-enabled fraud is a complex, global crisis affecting many nations; it is not a challenge unique to Cambodia," Mr. Schelble remarked. He emphasing that the scale of these crimes necessitates robust international cooperation, reaffirming the FBI’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the CCOS.

For his part, Senior Minister Santepundit Chhay Sinarith underscored that the Royal Government remains resolute in its "clean-up" mission, despite regional challenges. He detailed a strategy focused on total neutralisation: Expanding investigations to target the root of criminal networks rather than just frontline operatives; Tracking and seizing the illicit financial flows that sustain these syndicates; Implementing the "strictest possible" legal measures to deter future operations.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhance technical cooperation. Both parties discussed a roadmap for future collaboration, specifically focusing onbolstering the capacity of Cambodian law enforcement.

By K. Rithy Reak