Cambodia has reported major advances in its nationwide campaign against online scam operations, telling international diplomats that authorities indicted 5,032 suspects and repatriated more than 23,700 foreign nationals between July 1, 2025 and October 31 this year.

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, standing vice-chairman of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, presented the figures on Friday during a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The session drew 46 members of the foreign diplomatic corps and international organisations in person, alongside 18 Cambodian diplomatic missions attending virtually.

Sinarith outlined three strategic priorities guiding the government’s response: implementing international action plans, eliminating human trafficking and prosecuting syndicate ringleaders.

He confirmed that Cambodian law enforcement is conducting in-depth investigations alongside global partners, including the FBI and Interpol, following US sanctions targeting individuals and entities connected to the Prince Group network.

Over the past year, regulators revoked 18 casino licences linked to the network and suspended 10 others.

During the 16-month reporting period, security forces raided 972 targeted locations, leading to 568 court cases. Authorities froze more than $300 million in bank accounts alongside hundreds of millions of dollars in physical and real estate assets pending legal forfeiture.

Sinarith said that while authorities actively identify and protect trafficking victims coerced into illicit work, individuals voluntarily participating in financial scams will face full legal prosecution.

To dismantle syndicates, investigators are leveraging digital forensics to target financial flows, cryptocurrency transactions and illicit online gambling operations rather than relying exclusively on victim complaints.

Sinarith called on international partners to continue sharing actionable intelligence to aid ongoing enforcement. AKP