Phnom penh: The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior this afternoon issued a statement rejecting a recent commentary published by Channel News Asia (CNA) concerning Cambodia's ongoing efforts to combat online scam operations.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the CNA website recently released a commentary titled, "Cambodia Scams Not Going Away as Crackdown Only Catches the Small Fry." The commentary also claimed that "the operation is just to show that the authorities are actively working."
In response, the Spokesperson issued a four-point clarification to prevent misunderstandings:
Firstly, the spokesperson argued that the commentary, which was based on the emotions and political views of Mr. Nirmal Ghosh, generalized the situation and did not reflect the reality and effort of Cambodian and international authorities. Cambodia has been committed to opposing all cross-border crimes, and the spokesperson noted that transnational crimes are a regional and global issue, affecting even developed countries. The CNA website itself has produced documentaries exposing transnational crime centers in Southeast Asia.
Secondly, the statement highlighted that transnational crime cannot be eliminated by a single country. Cambodia welcomes international cooperation from friendly nations. The spokesperson emphasized that the results so far are due to cooperation with Task Forces from countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. The commentary affects not only Cambodia but also the cooperating Task Forces of partner countries.
Thirdly, the Cambodian Command Committee for Leading Research, Investigation, and Suppression of All Types of Crimes has a clear action plan to implement the Royal Government's policy on online scam crimes. In 2023, 283 foreign nationals were arrested and deported from Cambodia. In 2024, that number rose to 2,982. In 2025, authorities cracked down on 24 cases of technology-related fraud, detaining 1,859 foreign nationals and sending 11 cases to court, involving 148 suspects.
Lastly, despite current achievements, Cambodian authorities are committed to continuing their operations regularly, prioritizing the security and safety of their society and international partners cooperating closely with them.