Cambodia's Scam Crackdown Nets Nearly 5,000 Suspects; 77 Police Officers Face Discipline

Cambodia's Ministry of Interior reported that 4,834 individuals—both Cambodian and foreign nationals—remain in custody as part of an ongoing crackdown on technology-enabled fraud schemes. The detentions span from the beginning of the large-scale operation through mid-September, according to ministry spokesman Touch Sokhak.

The detainee population breaks down into two main groups: 491 Cambodian nationals, including 193 women, and 4,343 foreign nationals from 27 countries, with 544 women among them. These individuals are held across 23 prisons and correctional facilities nationwide.

The detainees fall into four legal stages. The largest group comprises 4,168 people formally charged and awaiting trial in courts. A second group of 441 individuals remains under judicial investigation. Another 194 have been convicted but retain appeal rights, while 31 have exhausted their legal options and are currently serving sentences or paying court-ordered fines.

Svay Rieng, Preah Sihanouk, and Banteay Meanchey provincial prisons, along with Correctional Centre 1 and Koh Kong Provincial Prison, house the highest concentrations of scam-related inmates.

Beyond arrests, the government has also moved against police involvement in the schemes. A total of 77 national police officers have faced disciplinary measures, ranging from warnings and demotions to suspension, salary reductions, and dismissal from the force. Sokhak explained that officers with minor involvement receive administrative discipline under 2024 regulations, while those suspected of criminal conduct face court proceedings. Several cases have already been referred to judicial authorities, though specific numbers were not disclosed.