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Large numbers of people were seen fleeing suspected scam compounds in Sihanoukville and other provinces on Friday, according to videos circulating on social media and crime watchdog channels.
The apparent exodus, involving people believed to be among the roughly 100,000 foreign nationals the United Nations says are forced to work in scam centers across Cambodia, followed Prime Minister Hun Manet’s call to step up the fight against “tech-savvy crime” and the arrest of Chen Zhi, the alleged head of a vast scam network operating under the Prince Group conglomerate.
Another politically connected tycoon and alleged scam operator, Li Kuong, was also arrested and charged on Thursday with fraud, money laundering and human trafficking.
In many of the videos, geolocated by transnational crime monitoring group CyberScam Monitor, large groups carrying luggage were seen leaving casinos and compounds it has identified as hosting scam operations.
The sites include Royal Yongli, Lixin Harbor City and GTI Casino in Sihanoukville, long known as a hub of the industry, where the departures appeared to be concentrated.
Similar movements were reported at suspected scam centers in Kampot, Kandal, Battambang and Bavet City.
Residents in Sihanoukville told AFP that hundreds of mostly Chinese nationals were moved out of alleged scam compounds earlier this week before police arrived, in what they described as pre-emptive evacuations.
Local law enforcement, meanwhile, offered few details.
Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Sar Ratha confirmed that foreign workers were leaving several casinos and nearby compounds but declined to say whether the movements were linked to online scam operations.
“We cannot say it is related to online scams because we have not investigated yet. This information has not been confirmed, as there is no government mechanism,” he said, adding that he did not know where the groups were going or whether they would be allowed to return.
Asked whether the departures are related to Hun Manet’s call to make the elimination of scam operations a priority, Ratha said: “We have not received any order.”
Sam Prak, police chief of Boun commune in Sihanoukville, said most of those leaving casino buildings were Chinese nationals.
“We don’t know what offenses they may have committed, but they left on their own,” he said.
In Battambang, provincial police chief Danh Engbunchan could not be reached for comment, but Phnom Proek district police chief Sam Virak said his team was “working on the case” and declined to provide further details.
Kampot police chief Mao Chanmathurith declined to comment, while Svay Rieng police chief Pech Virak could not immediately be reached.
National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun and Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak also did not respond to requests for comment.
