Cambodia: Cambodian authorities have detained 121 foreign nationals in a raid on an online scam operation in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, officials said on Saturday, as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on cybercrime.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the arrests were made after provincial authorities inspected 15 locations and uncovered an alleged scam centre operating inside a residential building in Sihanoukville. The report, issued by the provincial administration on April 4, details the scope of the operation and the international composition of those involved.
Those detained comprise 121 men and women from nine nationalities, including 42 Chinese, 37 Sri Lankans, 22 Vietnamese, 12 Indians, as well as nationals from Kenya, the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Authorities seized 123 computers and 132 mobile phones believed to have been used in the operation. These devices have been retained as evidence for further forensic examination.
All 42 Chinese nationals have been transferred to the provincial police headquarters for questioning as investigators seek to identify ringleaders and pursue legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the remaining 79 individuals have been handed over to immigration authorities for deportation.
The latest raid brings the number of scam-linked sites shut down in Preah Sihanouk province to 24 out of 31 locations inspected in the most recent campaign. This underscores the Royal Government's stepped-up efforts to combat online fraud and strengthen public security.