Vietnamese Police Raid Cambodian Scam Hub, Arrest 12

Photo by Doan Duong.

In a daring cross-border operation, Vietnamese police, in coordination with Cambodian authorities, dismantled a major fraud ring operating out of the notorious Venus2 complex in Bavet City, Cambodia. The raid, which took place in December 2024, resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects linked to a transnational scam network that had defrauded victims across Vietnam.

A High-Stakes Crackdown

The operation was launched after Lai Chau police received a complaint from a Vietnamese barber who lost 200 million VND (£6,600) in an online scam. Following a two-month investigation, six suspects were arrested in Vietnam, leading authorities to a broader network based in Cambodia.

Given the legal and diplomatic complexities of conducting an international raid, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security coordinated closely with Cambodian officials. The operation—codenamed 0924L—marked a significant step in tackling organised crime across borders.

Storming the Scam Den

On 11 December 2024, a joint task force comprising Vietnamese and Cambodian officers moved into position. By 8:00 am, they had surrounded the Venus2 complex, a densely populated area notorious for housing criminal operations. At 10:00 am, the team stormed room 6-808, catching the scammers off guard.

“Their faces showed utter disbelief—they never expected Vietnamese police to come all the way to catch them,” recalled Colonel Pham Hai Dang, head of the task force.

The operation lasted five tense hours, during which officers remained on high alert in the volatile environment. Once secured, the 12 suspects were handed over to Cambodian authorities for processing.

Justice Delivered

Two weeks later, all 12 suspects were extradited to Vietnam, where they were linked to a scam network that had stolen nearly 4 billion VND (£132,000) from 52 victims. Investigators also uncovered suspicious financial transactions totalling over 100 billion VND (£3.3 million).

The success of this raid highlights growing cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in tackling cross-border crime. For victims, it represents a step towards justice, as authorities continue to dismantle fraud networks preying on unsuspecting citizens.

-2025-03-25