PHNOM PENH: The government has taken pains to reiterate that Cambodia is not a criminal target; but rather is leading one of the strictest and most active fights against technology fraud in the region.
It explained that it has clearly demonstrated this through the introduction of nationwide plans and crackdown campaigns against technology-based fraud (Online Scams).
According to the “Commitment and Concrete Actions of the Royal Government of Cambodia in the Fight Against Technology-Based Fraud” statement released by the government spokesperson unit on Friday (April 24), Cambodia has made the fight against online scams a priority, in order to protect social order and public security, as well as the Kingdom’s reputation on the international stage.
Under the sixth-mandate government led by then-Prime Minister Hun Sen and continuing into the seventh mandate under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the government has shown strong will and the highest commitment to the task, it added.
Manet has issued strict orders to all subordinate officials and relevant forces to eliminate technology-based fraud networks to their roots. He has instructed them that this must be done with no delays and no exceptions.
The statement was released shortly after the US government personally sanctioned a sitting member of the Cambodian Senate for his alleged role in online scam operations.
According to the statement, they are not only tasked with targeting individuals, but must destroy criminal networks, revoke operational capabilities, cut off financial sources and close all operational gateways to eliminate the problem for good.
“This shows that Cambodia is not a criminal target, but is leading one of the strictest and most active fights in the region,” it said.
From the beginning of 2025 to April 19, Cambodian authorities have implemented deportation procedures for a total of 13,039 foreigners, including 1,509 women, from 33 nations, for their involvement in online crimes.
From mid-January to April 19, the authorities claimed that 241,888 foreigners voluntarily departed from Cambodia to avoid the crack down.
This included Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals.
Manet addressed an April 23 Council of Ministers meeting, reiterating that the fight against online fraud operations must continue unabated.
“The law exists, so it must be implemented strictly and effectively without leniency and without exception; that is to say, it must not stop at Khmer New Year, as some have suggested,” he said.
Days earlier, on April 21, Manet created four new working groups with members from the General Commission of National Police.
These new working groups will serve under the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC) and were created to strengthen the law enforcement efforts. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
