Cambodian authorities raided an online scam center in Phnom Penh on March 31, detaining 186 foreigners accused of running internet fraud schemes, the Cambodia-China Times reported.
The National Police led the raid on a 20-story apartment complex in Chamkar Mon district, fortified with razor wire and security cameras, a CamboJA News reporter observed.
All 186 detainees were Chinese or Taiwanese nationals and were immediately taken to a police station for questioning, the local outlet reported.
CamboJA News could not verify where the detainees are currently being held, if they are being extradited, or whether they are being screened for human trafficking.
Local street vendor Sin Vuthy, who lives across from the building on Street 494 and interacted with its security guards, said tenants change about once a year.
She said the most recent occupants moved in about a year ago and were rarely seen outside, except for Cambodian security guards, drivers, and a Chinese cook who occasionally stepped out to buy drinks.
Three Starex cargo vans frequently entered the compound, usually in the evenings, which she suspected were transporting mostly Chinese nationals, she added.
“This building is always quiet,” she said. “The security guard stays downstairs and isn’t allowed upstairs.”
National Police spokespersons Chhay Kim Khoeun and Chea Pov did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, which oversees the National Police.
Chou Bun Eng, vice president of Cambodia’s National Committee for Counter-Trafficking, and Sok Sumnea, spokesperson for the General Department of Immigration, both said they have not received information about the case.
Amid rising concerns and international pressure over large-scale online scam centers, Cambodia’s government recently formed an Inter-Ministerial Task Force intended to tackle the operations.
Meanwhile, transnational crime experts have criticized Cambodia’s crackdown efforts as lacking substance.
A National Police statement posted on the Interior Minister’s Facebook page in early March – which also denied allegations of police involvement in scam operations – said authorities have raided 18 scam centers, arrested and expelled more than 3,700 foreigners from 16 countries, and sent 76 ringleaders to court so far this year.
Yet, at least 260 scam centers are reportedly operating across Cambodia, trafficking an estimated 150,000 foreign migrant workers, according to the Cambodia Counter Trafficking in Persons Project and other research reports.
The National Police statement made no mention of rescuing trafficking victims during the raids.
Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group Licadho, called online fraud a serious and growing concern, with Cambodia facing continued international criticism.
“It harms Cambodia’s image, impacts tourism, discourages investors, and threatens social security,” he said.
Despite the government’s pledge to combat online scams through an inter-ministerial committee, the problem persists. He said public cooperation is key to reporting suspicious activity and urged authorities to be more transparent in their response.
“To effectively crack down on online scams, authorities need strong collaboration, strict law enforcement, and zero tolerance for corruption,” he said. “No matter how powerful someone is, if they’re involved in an online scam, the law must be enforced.”
He also called for advanced training in cybercrime detection, saying authorities must keep pace with evolving online threats.
