Authorities in Preah Sihanouk Detain 290 Foreign N | RSS.com
Authorities in Preah Sihanouk province have detained 290 foreign nationals found residing and working illegally in Cambodia, following a protest that escalated into a clash with Chinese workers in the local Chinatown area.
The General Commissariat of National Police reported that on the night of October 4 into the early hours of October 5, groups of Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals staged a protest against Chinese workers who allegedly used discriminatory and threatening language at their workplace. By October 6, specialized authorities had identified and detained 290 individuals, including 216 Pakistanis, 68 Bangladeshis, and 6 Nepalese, for illegal residence and employment. Investigations are ongoing to process the case according to the law.
The protest drew public attention in Preah Sihanouk city, as several Pakistanis and Bangladeshis expressed anger at Chinese workers who were accused of making ethnically and religiously offensive remarks in a workplace building.
Soeng Senkaruna, head of the Khmer Democracy Organization based in Australia, noted that enforcement of immigration laws in Cambodia remains limited, with many foreigners living in the country illegally to engage in online scams. He emphasized that the government must take stronger action to eliminate corruption to effectively address such issues.
The crackdown follows a series of reports of online fraud involving high-ranking officials and organized crime networks. Former tycoon Heng Sithy, in November 2024, documented the collaboration between government officials and criminals in illegal online gambling, human trafficking, cybercrime, and money laundering. Individuals implicated included Kuoch Chamroeun, Koeut Rith, and Hun To, the cousins of Prime Minister Hun Manet, who reportedly led organized drug trafficking networks with support from government officials and immigration police.
In a related action in April 2024, Preah Sihanouk authorities expelled 231 Vietnamese nationals through the Prek Chak international border crossing after finding their involvement in online fraud across three locations in the province.
These measures reflect Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to address illegal foreign employment and online crime while highlighting the continued challenges in enforcing immigration and anti-corruption laws.
