Cybercrime boss Liu Ren sent back to China

Cambodia has extradited Liu Ren, a prominent Chinese businessman accused of leading a vast transnational crime network, in a move underscoring Phnom Penh’s growing cooperation with Beijing against online fraud.

Liu, president of the Anhui Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, was arrested on 5 June during a police raid on the 47th floor of the Huangshan International building near Diamond Island in Phnom Penh. Officers seized luxury phones, laptops and other equipment allegedly used in online scams and extortion.

According to Major General Sok Sumnear of the General Department of Immigration, Liu was handed over to Chinese officials on 10 June and flown out of Cambodia that night on a chartered plane.

Investigators say Liu was a central figure in a criminal syndicate linked to Chen Zhi, the Chinese tycoon and founder of Prince Holding Group, who was himself extradited to China in January alongside two associates. Police allege Liu’s network was involved in trafficking, kidnapping, arms smuggling and money laundering.

Yang Peou, a geopolitical analyst, said the extradition demonstrated Prime Minister Hun Manet’s pledge to dismantle cybercrime operations. “The crackdown, arrest and subsequent extradition of Liu Ren prove that Cambodia is not a country that creates or instigates online scams,” he argued, adding that Cambodia has worked closely with China and other nations to combat transnational crime.

Liu, originally from Anhui province, had lived in Cambodia since 2000. He reportedly fled to Malaysia earlier this year after Chen Zhi’s arrest but later returned to Phnom Penh, where police finally caught him.

Interior Ministry spokesman Touch Sokhak confirmed the arrests were made at Beijing’s request following joint investigations. He noted that Chen’s Cambodian nationality had already been revoked by royal decree in December 2025.

The extradition marks another high-profile handover in Cambodia’s campaign against cyber fraud, a sector that has drawn international criticism and tarnished the country’s reputation. For Phnom Penh, Liu’s removal is both a signal of cooperation with China and an attempt to show the world it is serious about tackling organised crime.

-2026-06-19