Cambodia raids 85 online scam sites in August, detaining 1,255 suspects

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities cracked down on 85 small-scale online scam sites in August, detaining 1,255 suspects, according to a National Police report released Tuesday.

Seized equipment confiscated from cyberscam operation centres raided in Phnom Penh and other Cambodian provinces is stored at the Secretariat of the Commission for Combatting Online Scams, in the General Commissariat of National Police in Phnom Penh on March 11, 2026. (File photo: AFP)

These operations are crucial to preventing criminals from relocating, as the authorities continue to use an "iron fist" to crush and eradicate these offenses, the report said.

Additionally, the General Department of Immigration deported 2,005 foreign nationals in August, including 574 individuals linked to online fraud networks, the report added.

The latest sweep follows an announcement last month by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), who said that Cambodia has eliminated large-scale online scam compounds following a rigorous, year-long nationwide crackdown.