Cambodia–Korea raid nets 50 tech fraud suspects

Cambodian and South Korean police have arrested 50 people in a major crackdown on online fraud in Sihanoukville, underscoring growing cooperation against transnational crime.

The raid, carried out on 9 December 2025, targeted the XIN DU HAI building in Village 4, Sangkat 4. Authorities confirmed suspicions of a large-scale scam operation, seizing 63 computers, 60 mobile phones and 60 iPads. Four women were among those detained, while two South Korean victims were rescued during the search.

The joint operation was coordinated by Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Cybercrime alongside the National Police and Preah Sihanouk Provincial Unified Command, with oversight from the Provincial Court Prosecutor’s Office. Officials said the suspects and seized evidence have been handed over to the Cambodia–Korea Joint Working Group for further legal proceedings. Investigators are now working to identify the masterminds behind the fraud network.

The arrests come amid a wider push by Cambodian authorities to tighten immigration and security enforcement. Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, Director General of the General Department of Immigration, revealed this week that more than 13,500 foreign nationals were expelled in 2025 for criminal offences, a 57 percent rise on the previous year. The deportees represented 66 nationalities.

Lt Gen Veasna said the increase reflects stronger monitoring of foreign residents and tougher border controls. He emphasised that the government is determined to safeguard public order by targeting illegal immigration and foreign criminals attempting to hide in Cambodia.

The Sihanoukville raid highlights both the scale of cybercrime in the region and the growing role of international cooperation in tackling it. For Cambodia, the arrests reinforce its message that transnational crime will be met with decisive action, while for South Korea, the rescue of its citizens underscores the importance of joint policing efforts.

-2026-01-13