Cambodia Arrests 2,100 in Major Crackdown on Scam Centres

[geovalin]

 

Cambodian authorities have arrested over 2,100 people in a sweeping campaign targeting online scam centres, in what officials describe as a government-mandated mission to “dismantle every scam network, no matter where they hide.”

 

More than 500 suspects were detained in Kandal and Stung Treng provinces on Thursday and Friday alone, bringing the total number arrested since late June to 2,137, according to Information Minister Neth Pheaktra. The crackdown follows a new directive from Prime Minister Hun Manet warning public servants of transfers or dismissal if they fail to act decisively.

 

Raids across 43 sites have netted suspects from at least a dozen countries, including nearly 600 Chinese nationals, along with hundreds from Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Images released by state media show soldiers inspecting seized electronics and suspects lined up in plastic wrist restraints.

 

The scale of the operation reflects growing international pressure. A damning Amnesty International report last month accused Cambodia of ignoring widespread abuse at these scam compounds, which it likened to “hellish labour camps” rife with torture, forced confinement, and human trafficking.

 

“Jobseekers from Asia and beyond are lured by the promise of well-paid work, only to be enslaved by criminal gangs,” Amnesty said. Many of these gangs are believed to be led by ethnic Chinese crime bosses, operating in regions with weak enforcement.

 

Victims interviewed by Amnesty reported being electrocuted, beaten, and held in cages for failing to meet scam quotas. Some were as young as 14.

 

Cambodia’s human rights watchdog Licadho welcomed the government’s late but “necessary” response, noting the damage these crimes have done to the country’s image, investment climate, and security.

 

But critics remain wary. “If we only arrest workers and ignore the organisers, these centres will simply resurface,” warned opposition adviser Rong Chhun. Others called for prosecution of officials who turned a blind eye to years of abuse.

 

With an estimated $40 billion a year generated by cyber-scams across Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s long-overdue crackdown may be a step in the right direction—but observers say the real test lies in whether the masterminds behind the scenes will finally face justice.

 

-2025-07-19