Phnom penh: Cambodian authorities have detained more than 300 foreign nationals following a massive coordinated raid on a major cybercrime hub operating out of a high-end hotel in the capital's Khan Daun Penh.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the operation conducted on April 12 targeted a suspected online scam centre located within the Wyndham Grand Phnom Penh Capital Hotel on Preah Monivong Boulevard. The raid was executed by a multi-agency task force under the direct orders of Phnom Penh Governor H.E. Khuong Sreng and Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Chuon Narin, with legal coordination provided by Deputy Prosecutor Seng Heang.
A total of 311 individuals, including 31 women, were taken into custody. The suspects represent five different nationalities: 254 individuals from China, 30 from Malaysia, 23 from Vietnam, and two from India, with 144 of the Chinese nationals found without valid passports.
During the sweep, authorities seized a vast array of technical equipment used to facilitate fraudulent activities, including 615 mobile phones, 140 laptops, 31 all-in-one computers, six monitors, and three CPUs. Specialised investigators concluded that the suspects utilised the Cambodian base to orchestrate various digital crimes. Key activities included investment scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and government impersonation.
The raid also uncovered evidence of illicit drug use on the premises. All suspects and seized evidence have been transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Headquarters for further legal proceedings.
The crackdown comes just days after Cambodia's comprehensive Law on Countering Technology-Based Scams went into effect on April 7, 2026. The legislation, signed by Acting Head of State Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, consists of five chapters and 24 articles, introducing five distinct criminal offenses and severe penalties.
Senior Minister H.E. Santepundit Chhay Sinarith issued a warning following the arrests, urging those involved in such syndicates to surrender and cooperate with authorities. He also cautioned property owners against leasing buildings to criminal groups, emphasizing the risks to national security.