AKP Phnom Penh, August 18, 2026 —

The Supreme Courts of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening judicial cooperation to improve the handling of cross-border cases involving transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking, online scams, human trafficking and crimes against natural resources.

According to a press release from the Supreme Court of Cambodia received by AKP on Aug. 18, the three countries have made significant progress in their judicial cooperation, particularly in combating cross-border crimes and improving the adjudication of related cases.

Between the 7th and 8th Court Conferences of the Cambodian, Vietnamese and Lao Border Provinces, Cambodian authorities cracked down on and adjudicated 1,355 cross-border criminal cases involving 2,119 offenders at courts in border provinces and the Phnom Penh Capital Court. Vietnam and Laos also recorded cases involving cross-border crimes, in addition to civil and commercial disputes with cross-border elements.

Based on data on cross-border criminal, civil and commercial cases occurring in border provinces of the three countries, the 8th Court Conference of Border Provinces underscored the indispensable need to continue cooperation in combating crimes and handling cases in the border areas.

The conference also called for continued improvement in the quality and efficiency of case handling by courts in the border provinces of the three countries, contributing to the development of border areas into zones of security, stability and development, while ensuring the safety and well-being of people living in the respective border provinces and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The participating courts agreed to establish communication and coordination mechanisms among border-province courts to facilitate communication and enable the prompt verification of cross-border evidence in accordance with applicable legal procedures.

Such mechanisms are expected to support transparent and fair enforcement of the law against offenders, while enhancing law enforcement cooperation in combating online scams, controlling drug-related crimes, suppressing human trafficking and protecting natural resources.

The conference further highlighted the importance of developing human resources in both legal expertise and digital transformation in the justice sector.

It also stressed the need to efficiently and expeditiously resolve cross-border civil and commercial disputes, while strengthening public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law in accordance with the laws of each respective country.

The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Cambodia successfully hosted the 8th Court Conference of the Cambodian, Vietnamese and Lao Border Provinces in Phnom Penh on Aug. 14, 2026.

By C. Nika