Cambodia has deported 72 Vietnamese nationals after authorities said they were involved in illegal border crossings and online scam activities in the country.

The General Department of Immigration said in a statement on its social media account that 24 of those deported were women. They were handed over by police in Phnom Penh, Svay Rieng, Kandal, Prey Veng, Pursat, and Tboung Khmum provinces.

Officials said the deportations were carried out for offences including breaching the proclamation on the expulsion of foreigners from Cambodia, overstaying visas, crossing the border illegally, and working without authorisation in connection with online scams.

The group was expelled on August 12, 2025, through the Phnom Den international border checkpoint in Takeo Province, following orders from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, and the Director General of Immigration.

Earlier this month, on August 8, Cambodian authorities deported 352 Vietnamese nationals through the Trapaing Phlong international border checkpoint in Tboung Khmum province. They were accused of working illegally, staying without valid documents, and being involved in online scams.

Deputy Chair of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking, Chou Bun Eng, has said that dismantling online scam operations is complicated because some operate under the guise of legitimate businesses. She added that many foreigners entering Cambodia do not clearly state their purpose, making regulation more difficult.

According to a Ministry of Interior document dated July 10, 2020, more than 89,000 foreign migrants across Cambodia had applied for official recognition and permanent residency. These represented nearly 28,945 families from 11 nationalities. Of this total, 80,947 were Vietnamese nationals. The other 10 nationalities combined accounted for only 315 people with residency status.