IN BRIEF
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In a straightforward speech, Hun Sen puts pressure on to track down the corruption even within the corridors of the administration: no more, he said, simply rounding up the perpetrators of the online scams — he wants legal proceedings against the accomplices and the confiscation of property of those who feed on the fruits of crime. He also demands administrative sanctions against governors or force commanders who turn a blind eye, and orders an investigation into the mysterious entry pathways foreign suspects. On the ground, the wave of repression has already affected hundreds of sites and provoked theexpulsion thousands of people, while Phnom Penh strengthens its legal response — including a law against online scams with increased penalties — to show that organized looting is no longer to be taken lightly.
Hun Sen, president of the Senate and head of the Cambodian People’s Party, delivered a clear and resounding message: the fight against online scams must no longer be limited to simple police raids. He demands legal proceedings against those responsible and complicit, the confiscation of property Guilty parties and administrative sanctions against local authorities who turn a blind eye. Between stark figures, mass expulsions, and international pressure, Phnom Penh is trying to regain control—or at least give that impression.
A call to go beyond repression
In his message of May 24, Hun Sen He insisted that not only the perpetrators, but also those who protect them or turn a blind eye, should be prosecuted. According to him, mere administrative dismissal is insufficient: corrupt officials must have their assets seized because “they continue to live comfortably on the money earned through scams.” He demanded that… sanctions target provincial governors, police chiefs or gendarmerie chiefs who are not implementing the directives, promising a policy of zero indulgence.
Investigating the entry routes of fraudsters
Another point raised by the leader was the practical—and awkward—question of how thousands of foreign suspects were able to enter the country. He asked the services to identify the entry routes, in particular by land, deeming the hypothesis of mass arrivals by plane without documents unlikely. The idea of a clandestine logistical network crossing borders and regions resonates with other cases in the region, whether involving businessmen, call centers, or individuals lured by promises of digital gold (see, for example, the investigations surrounding call centers and alleged links to Hun Sen’s family in This item).
National campaign: figures, raids and evictions
Since the summer of 2025, the repression has intensified: between July 2025 and mid-April 2026, more than 250 scam centers — among which 91 casinos — have been dismantled, and more than 13,000 foreigners Those allegedly involved were expelled. Official figures for the period from May 1st to 22nd, 2026, indicate more than 3,300 arrests during raids on 50 sites.
In total, the police announce 3,320 people of 32 nationalities arrested: 1030 expelled, ninety-six referred to the courts, five hundred fifty-nine released after an administrative education procedure, 1,590 still under investigation and forty-five having requested voluntary repatriation. The operations are said to have dispersed some networks: some suspects are believed to be hiding in Cambodia, while others have fled to neighboring countries.
Accommodation checks and owner liability
At the same time, authorities are stepping up inspections of communal accommodations and imposing sanctions on landlords accused of renting premises to fraudulent networks. Police have urged the public to report any suspicious activity and warned that harboring illegal activities will be prosecuted. These administrative measures complement police crackdowns and aim to sever the logistical roots of these networks.
International pressure and initial sanctions
The campaign is taking place against a backdrop of increased external pressure. Since 2025, several international partners have been demanding that Phnom Penh trace the chain of command back to its supporters and elites. In October 2025, Washington even described Cambodia as “ Sponsor State “Human trafficking, while US and British sanctions have targeted groups accused of transnational fraudulent activities.
In April 2026, the United States sanctioned the senator Kok An for alleged links to “romance-investment” scams. These international measures come on top of increased media and cultural visibility of the problem: the film No More Bets (relayed by the press) has, according to some observers, contributed to drying up Chinese tourism and alerting authorities and populations to the reality of the traps set for migrant workers.
Transnational affairs often have regional repercussions: Thai police have conducted operations against suspected Cambodian mafias linked to those close to the government (see), while scandals elsewhere in Asia (such as the case of a Thai monk accused of diverting millions to online games) reported here) fuel the perception of a regional scourge.
Legal actions, laws and movements within the authorities
On the institutional level, several changes were observed: the governor and the heads of the police and gendarmerie in Mondulkiri province were replaced on May 22 and 23—a significant move that, unofficially, is believed to be linked to suspicions of collusion.Anti-corruption unit It has also reportedly initiated legal proceedings against two senior officials at the Ministry of the Interior for alleged links to these networks and acts of money laundering.
Cambodia has also enacted a specific law against online scams April 6, 2026, planned to have a strong impact: sentences that could reach up to 30 years in prison and, for the organizers, the possibility of a life imprisonmentIt remains to be seen whether these legal tools will be applied impartially or whether they will become a new political instrument.
Regional resonances and comparative examples
The dynamics in Cambodia must be understood within a broader context where corruption and influence peddling are sometimes addressed through sanctions and high-profile trials. For example, France has seen the opening of a trial involving associates of the former Cambodian Prime Minister for an attack targeting the opposition (read), while more mundane but revealing cases of corruption have targeted leaders and officials in the region (see sanctions and convictions related to health scandals in Vietnam). here and spectacular court decisions there).
Political communication is also being monitored: the potential political successor, Hun Manet, multiplies public responses on the proper management of spending (see his speech)while the regional press offers profiles and analyses of his background and his entourage (portrait).
In this whirlwind, media outlets, NGOs, and foreign governments are observing whether the promises of lawsuits and of confiscation will be followed by tangible effects — or will the fight against corruption remain a flash in the pan, intended more to reassure international partners than to sustainably transform practices.
To delve deeper into certain aspects of the regional context or neighboring scandals, you can consult investigations and reports that highlight the porous borders, financial networks, and human stories behind these cases: in Thailand, still in Thailandand cases that directly affect the Cambodian political scene (call centers, trial in Paris).
Q: What exactly is required? Hun Sen facing online scam networks? A: He urges the government to go far beyond simple police interventions: to open legal proceedings against the perpetrators and especially against the complicit officials within public institutions, and to seize the assets of the guilty parties. Q: Why are we talking about confiscation of assets rather than simple revocations? A: According to him, administrative removal is not enough: many officials continue to “live comfortably” thanks to the money obtained from scams, hence the need for confiscation of property. Q: What administrative sanctions have been mentioned for local officials? A: Hun Sen called for measures against the provincial governorsPolice or gendarmerie chiefs who do not apply the directives: firm sanctions, No leniency will be shown ” he warned. Q: How many fraudulent centers and individuals were targeted by the national campaign? A: Between July 2025 and mid-April 2026, more than 250 scam centers (including 91 casinos) have been dismantled and more than 13,000 foreigners Those involved were expelled. During raids from May 1st to 22nd, 2026, approximately 3,300 suspects were arrested at 50 sites. Q: What is the overall outcome of the recent arrests and deportations? A: In total, 3,320 people People of 32 nationalities were arrested; among them, approximately 1030 were expelled, ninety-six transferred to court, five hundred fifty-nine released after “administrative education”, 1,590 are still under investigation and forty-five requested voluntary repatriation. Q: Hun Sen raised questions about the entry of fraudsters: what are we trying to establish? A: He is calling for an investigation into the entry modes foreign suspects, suspecting that thousands have entered the country through land routes rather than by air with regular paperwork, and a request to identify these channels. Q: What measures have been taken against the accommodation providers and their owners? A: The authorities have strengthened controls in the collective accommodation and sanctioned landlords accused of renting properties to fraudulent networks. Police are urging the public to report any suspicious activity or face prosecution. Q: Is there an international dimension to this case? A: Yes. Under pressure from foreign partners, Phnom Penh is being urged to target not only the perpetrators but also the networks and their supporters. sanctions American and British authorities have targeted groups and individuals linked to transnational fraud, and in April 2026 a senator was sanctioned by the United States. Q: Have there been any changes within the local authorities? A: Yes: in the province of MondolkiriThe governor and the police/gendarmerie chiefs were replaced at the end of May, and the Anti-Corruption Unit reportedly initiated proceedings against senior officials in the Ministry of the Interior for alleged links to the networks and money laundering. Q: What new legislation now applies to organizers of online scams? A: Cambodia adopted a specific law against [unclear] on April 6, 2026 online scams, providing for penalties of up to 30 years in prison, even the life imprisonment for the organizers. Q: Do these operations have an impact on the country’s reputation? A: The scale of the networks raises questions: Cambodia is among the 163rd place out of 182 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, and international films and investigations have already affected tourism and diplomatic pressure. Q: Did the raids shut down the networks? A: The operations have weakened certain structures: some suspects are in hiding, others have fled to neighboring countries, and networks are dispersing — but the fight continues and the hunt for accomplices and financial circuits is now the focus of attention.FAQ — Hun tackles corruption among Cambodian officials