VANTHONG KONGMANY: Lao Minister of Public Security, has requested that Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Sokha assign officials to share their experience in investigating and dismantling online scam operations with their counterparts in Laos.
The two met on June 29, on the sidelines of the Second Cambodia–Laos–Vietnam Ministerial Meeting, hosted in Phnom Penh by the interior ministry.
Sokha welcomed the proposal, noting that Cambodia intends to establish a permanent cooperation mechanism among law enforcement officials from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to facilitate information sharing and exchange of expertise on preventing, suppressing and investigating online scam operations.
Vanthong praised the Cambodian government for their ongoing crackdown the current campaign as “active and highly effective”.
He warned that Laos is also facing growing challenges from cyber fraud syndicates, with criminals increasingly hiding in smaller locations within local communities to carry out online scam activities.
Sokha explained that after Cambodia’s large-scale enforcement operations, many remaining criminal groups have adopted new tactics to evade authorities, including renting small guesthouses and private homes in residential areas to continue operating.
However, he insisted that Cambodian authorities remain proactive in identifying and dismantling these smaller operations, aided by information provided by local residents.
Sokha also told his Lao counterpart that, to date, more than 360,000 foreign nationals have either been deported from Cambodia or voluntarily returned to their home countries after being implicated in online scam activities, or found to be living or working illegally.
Both sides also discussed broader cooperation on combating transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, as well supporting ongoing border demarcation efforts. They also drew attention to the importance of the Second Cambodia–Laos–Vietnam Ministerial Meeting, hosted by Cambodia. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
