Cambodia freezes $300m in cybercrime crackdown

Cambodia has frozen more than $300 million in bank accounts linked to online scams, according to a report released by the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS). The figures mark the scale of a year‑long campaign to dismantle criminal networks operating across the country.

Between July 2025 and August 2026, authorities inspected 832 suspected sites and took action against 663, seizing 86 major scam compounds. Officials say large‑scale centres have now been shut down, though smaller operations have shifted into apartments, guesthouses and even coffee shops.

The crackdown has led to 446 cases involving nearly 4,000 suspects from 29 nationalities being sent to court. Among those implicated are senior officials: a deputy prosecutor, a deputy immigration chief, a Phnom Penh police deputy, a former foreign ministry director‑general, and several police and military officers.

Nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 countries were detained during the campaign, while more than 22,000 foreign nationals were rescued and repatriated after being forced into scam operations. The CCOS stressed that asset freezes are designed to cut off criminal proceeds and financial flows sustaining these networks.

Casinos have also come under scrutiny. Action was taken against 27 establishments linked to tech‑related fraud, with 18 licences revoked and nine suspended. Inspections into illegal gambling and sports betting continue.

On Wednesday, 122 Chinese nationals were deported on a charter flight from Techo International Airport, accused of illegal residence, employment and online scam activity.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged that Cambodia will not allow its territory to be used as a base for transnational crime. He urged authorities to identify, arrest and deport offenders, while continuing to rescue victims trapped in scam compounds.

The CCOS called for public cooperation, encouraging citizens to report suspicious sites to help enforcement teams act swiftly. Officials admit that while major compounds have been dismantled, the challenge now lies in rooting out smaller, concealed operations scattered across urban areas.

The campaign reflects Cambodia’s determination to confront cybercrime head‑on, even as criminal groups adapt and disperse. With hundreds of millions already frozen and thousands of suspects facing trial, the government is signalling that the country’s role as a hub for online scams is coming to an end.

-2026-09-04