Mondulkiri: 262 foreigners, 58 Thais held in scam raid

Cambodian authorities have detained more than 260 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on an alleged online scam network in Mondulkiri province.

The raid, carried out on 10 April in Sen Monorom town, targeted a commercial building suspected of hosting cross‑border fraud operations. Officials say 262 people from nine countries were taken into custody, including 58 Thai citizens. Computers and mobile phones were seized in large numbers, with investigators now analysing the equipment for links to wider networks.

Law enforcement sources revealed that the operation was initially launched at the request of the Indian embassy, which sought help locating nationals believed to be trapped in scam centres. Once inside, police discovered dozens of foreigners allegedly coerced into running online fraud schemes. Several Thai detainees told investigators they were lured across the border with promises of high salaries, only to be forced into scams targeting victims in Thailand and the United States.

Three suspected managers – two Chinese nationals and one from Myanmar – have been handed over to the provincial court. The remaining detainees are being processed for deportation. Authorities are also searching for the building’s owner, who has so far evaded questioning.

The crackdown comes just days after Cambodia’s new Law on Combating Online Scams took effect on 7 April. The legislation introduces severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines of up to one billion riel (£20,000), underscoring the government’s determination to dismantle transnational fraud networks.

Chhay Sinarith, head of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, urged property owners not to lease premises to criminal groups and called on anyone involved to cooperate with investigators.

The arrests highlight the scale of cybercrime operations in Cambodia’s border provinces, where foreign nationals are often recruited under false pretences. For the authorities, the Mondulkiri raid marks one of the largest coordinated actions yet against online scam syndicates – and a signal that tougher enforcement is now in play.

-2026-04-16