GG News Bureau
Phnom Penh, 24th July – In Southeast Asia’s largest ever crackdown on cybercrime, Cambodian police arrested more than 3,000 people in mass raids between June 27 and July 22. On direct orders from Prime Minister Hun Manet, security forces raided 58 sites in Phnom Penh and 16 other provinces, breaking up huge scam networks that made Cambodia a world center for online fraud.
Of the 3,075 suspects who were arrested were 606 women, with many foreign nationals. The suspects arrested are:
1,028 Chinese
693 Vietnamese
366 Indonesians
105 Indians
101 Bangladeshis
Citizens of Korea, Nepal, Thailand, Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines were also arrested.
These syndicates of scams were said to be supported by influential Chinese crime syndicates. The victims were lured from across countries by bogus job adverts and ensnared in walled compounds. Many were forced into labor, beaten, and even tortured. Those who tried to flee faced punishment or their deaths.
The UN has estimated in the past that more than 100,000 workers might be so coerced in Cambodia. The rings conducted sophisticated international scams such as:
Crypto investment scams
Romance and dating scams
Government impersonation schemes
Fake digital arrests for ransom
Cambodian police seized hundreds of mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices involved in the scams. The global scope of the racket has also spurred cooperation between Cambodia and other countries, including India. Indian authorities have already tracked that such syndicates had stolen ₹3,000 crore (about $360 million) from Indian citizens by operating artificial investment platforms and apps.
Though on a large scale, critics say Cambodia acted only after under pressure from the international community. The U.S. had previously imposed sanctions against Cambodian businessman Ly Yong Phat, a friend of the ruling clique, for his suspected connections to cybercrime and exploitation of laborers. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have criticized Cambodia for allowing slavery, abuse, and trafficking to thrive in more than 50 scamming compounds.
Meanwhile, regional tensions are also escalating amid the crackdown. Border tensions with neighboring Thailand risk complicating extradition and collaborative action against transnational crime.
Despite this, Cambodian officials have framed the crackdown as a turning point in their battle against cybercrime. Officials assert that the raids form part of a long-term strategy to restore law and order and enhance international credibility.
As investigations are brought to light, the international community is keenly observing. The recent arrests are a reminder of how cross-border coordination, tighter regulation, and cybersecurity awareness can fight the shadow economy of cybercrime that keeps targeting millions around the globe.
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