AKP Phnom Penh, April 14, 2026 --

A joint task force from Mondulkiri province has dismantled a major online scam operation in the heart of the provincial city, arresting 262 foreign nationals, including 58 Thai citizens, authorities said Tuesday.

The raid took place on April 10 at a commercial building complex owned by a local company in Sen Monorom city, following intelligence indicating the site was being used for technology-enabled fraud (online scam). The operation was carried out by the Mondulkiri Provincial Unified Command, in coordination with prosecutors from the provincial court.

Initially launched at the request of the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh to locate Indian nationals, the raid escalated after officers discovered a large, unauthorised congregation of foreign workers on the premises.

Of those detained, 47 were women. The national breakdown includes: 135 Chinese nationals (two women), 58 Thais (27 women), 30 Indians (one woman), 22 Myanmar nationals (13 women), six Nepalis (two women), four Pakistanis (one woman), five Rwandans, one Burundian, and one Filipino.

Authorities seized significant technological assets, including 420 desktop computers and 1,450 mobile phones.

According to preliminary investigations, the Thai nationals told officials they had been lured into Cambodia illegally through Banteay Meanchey province under false promises of monthly salaries between 20,000 and 40,000 baht (approximately US$580 to US$1,160). Instead, they were forced to work as online scammers. One Thai national, who had entered Cambodia legally via Phnom Penh International Airport in November 2025 and worked at an online operation in Svay Rieng province, said he was later coerced into moving to the Mondulkiri site in February 2026.

Experts concluded that the syndicate used technology to defraud victims in Thailand through fake online merchandise sales, while simultaneously targeting individuals in the United States with fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes.

Authorities have identified three ringleaders — two Chinese nationals and one Myanmar national — who have been charged and sent to the Mondulkiri Provincial Court along with seized evidence, including computers and mobile phones. The remaining 259 foreign nationals have been transferred to the General Department of Immigration to face deportation proceedings.

A manhunt is underway for the owner of the property, who remains at large and has not cooperated with authorities. Seized digital equipment has been sent for forensic analysis to uncover further criminal networks.

Speaking after the operation, H.E. Santepundit Chay Sinarith, Senior Minister and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), issued a renewed appeal for individuals involved in such schemes to surrender and cooperate with authorities. He also warned property owners against leasing buildings to criminal syndicates, urging them to exercise due diligence to help eradicate online fraud from Cambodia.

The crackdown comes as Cambodia enforces its new Law on Combating Technology-Based Fraud, which took effect on April 7, 2026, after being signed by Acting Head of State Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. The law comprises five chapters and 24 articles, establishing five new criminal offences: technology-based fraud; organising or leading an online scam centre; recruiting or training others to commit such fraud; maliciously collecting personal identification documents or information; and a specific form of money laundering. Convictions carry penalties of up to life imprisonment, fines of up to 1 billion Riel (approximately US$250,000), and asset seizure.

By K. Rithy Reak