Thai authorities on Tuesday coordinated raids on 19 properties in and around Bangkok linked to Cambodian tycoon and senator Kok An, in a rare crackdown on actors with alleged ties to the cyberscam industry and the latest sign of deteriorating ties between the two countries.
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen congratulated the Thai authorities and police for launching an operation to combat online crime within their territory, stating that it would reduce the influx of such crimes into Cambodia.
The properties in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok are reportedly owned by Kok An, who is also a Cambodian senator. During the operation, police seized several luxury vehicles valued approximately 27 million baht (around $830,000), according to Thai news outlet Khaosod.
The court warrant revealed that Kok An allegedly owns Crown Casino Resort, comprising two towers — 25-story and 18-story buildings —, the HISO building, and the Crown Casino in Poipet, Cambodia. These locations were allegedly used by a transnational criminal syndicate to carry out various online scams, including hybrid scams, call center frauds, and money laundering. A number of Thai nationals were lured into working at these sites.
CamboJA News could not reach Kok An for comment.
Meanwhile, Hun Sen described Thailand’s action as “dropping a rock on its own foot”, on his Facebook page on Tuesday. “The dismantling of online crime networks should have been done long ago, rather than delaying it until now. Such activities have caused issues for Cambodia in the past, particularly crimes originating from Thailand, especially along the Thai border.”
Hun Sen also addressed claims by Thai citizens, including Thai officials and media outlets stating that the investigation was likely motivated by Kok An’s alleged close relationship with him. Hun Sen argued that if the claims were true, then the Thai court should also consider investigating former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is “even closer to him”, to the extent of “having a reserved room in his home”. “Let’s see if the Thai court dares to open an investigation into Thaksin or not.”
Chea Thyrith, spokesperson for the Senate president, criticized the claims as “unfair attacks” from Thai authorities against Cambodia. According to his comment, carried by CC Times and Fresh News, the claims are an attempt to blame Hun Sen and distort facts about online scam operations in Cambodia.
Thyrith said it was a “political revenge tactic” and a “habitual” strategy by Thailand to shift blame on its neighbors, particularly Cambodia.
Thailand has a “pattern of deflecting responsibility” by accusing neighboring countries, he said, citing the example of former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who also blamed Cambodia for online scam operations. He alleged that Thailand has “long been a central hub for transnational crimes for Southeast Asia”.
“The United Nations recently accused this country and called for action, as Thailand has become a hub for online scam crimes. So, this is a tactic, a method of shifting blame, which reflects its usual behavior and leadership [against] especially Cambodia, with the intention of damaging their reputation, when in fact, it is a country mired by its own filth.”
The spokesperson urged the Thai side to “use all the tricks at its disposal” if it wants to continue attacking Cambodia, as “we are not afraid”. He said Cambodia’s strong leadership — Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet — are “fully capable of standing up to Thailand”.
Touch Sokhak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said if the Thai authorities raided Kok An’s home in Thailand, it meant that they were exposing themselves. They are admitting that Thailand is “the largest center of online fraud crime in Asia”, which has caused Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar to suffer as a result, Sokhak said on his Facebook page on July 9.
Kin Phea, Director of International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, felt that the crackdown on Kok An’s properties was Thailand’s “internal affair”. It would only become a concern if the action extended to Cambodian territory.
However, Cambodia should closely monitor the allegations brought by the Thai court to assess whether they are politically motivated or based on solid criminal evidence.
“The act of targeting or extraditing influential figures in Cambodia who are also members of the Cambodian Senate will inevitably affect diplomatic relations between the two countries, whether intended or not. I believe this issue stems from ongoing border disputes and broader diplomatic tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which are difficult to resolve under the current circumstances.”
Phea also expressed concern about the possibility of the conflict spreading to other sectors or individuals, further escalating diplomatic and border tensions. He warned that people living along the border would be the first to suffer the consequences, and that both countries’ economies would be affected. Ultimately, it would come down to which country can endure the pressure longer, he added.
Yang Peou, Secretary-General of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, viewed the developments as a political agenda by Thai politicians who are attempting to shift blame on Cambodia. He noted that this comes at a time when Kok An, the target of the crackdown, is known to have close ties with Hun Sen.
“It seems Thai politicians are trying to link key individuals close to Samdech Hun Sen with the wrongdoings they are accusing them of. Honestly, I believe this is a political maneuver. Kok An has been doing business and investing in Thailand for a long time, so why is it only now that these allegations are emerging?”
Peou also called on the Thai side to stop using tactics to shift blame on Cambodia, as they are unproductive and would only erode people’s trust in Thailand. The approach could undermine international confidence in Thailand, particularly in terms of investment and international cooperation, he remarked.
Recently, a United Nations Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Thai government to clarify 10 issues related to online scam and transnational criminal networks operating in the country. The letter raised serious concerns based on confidential reports from global victims who claimed they were lured and coerced into working in online scam centers on Thai soil, according to The Nation on June 23.
Cambodia was also named by international organizations for hosting online scam operations. According to findings by Amnesty International, 53 scam compounds are currently operating across the country.
The organization released a 200 over-page report on June 26, 2025, detailing widespread human rights abuse linked to the operations, including torture, human trafficking, and forced labor. The report follows an 18-month investigation where they identified 53 scam sites and interviewed 423 victims.
Responding to Amnesty International’s claim, Hun Sen pointed the finger at Thailand as the center of online crime, noting that Cambodia was the “victim, not the source”.
