37 suspects detained in a crackdown of online fraud located in Sihanoukville on September 1, 2026. (Agence Kampuchea Press)
On September 1, a crackdown on suspected online fraud in Sihanoukville led to the detention of 37 people, including 35 foreign nationals, after officials searched a residential villa believed to be linked to scam activities.
The inspection took place in Village 5 of Sangkat 4 under the direction of the Sihanoukville Deputy City Governor. A Deputy Prosecutor from the Sihanoukville Provincial Court was also involved to ensure the operation was carried out in accordance with legal procedures.
Among the items recovered from the property were five all-in-one desktop computers, 110 mobile phones and a vehicle. Authorities said the electronic devices were believed to have been used in technology-assisted fraudulent activities.
Immigration violations were also identified during the inspection. Several foreign residents at the site were unable to produce valid passports or documentation confirming their lawful stay in Cambodia.
The group brought in for questioning consisted of 34 Chinese nationals, including one woman, two Cambodian citizens, including one woman, and one Myanmar national. Authorities said 23 of those detained were living in Cambodia without the necessary entry permits or valid travel documents.
Following the search, officials transported both the detainees and the seized materials to the Sihanoukville Provincial Police Headquarters. Investigators are expected to question those involved before determining the appropriate legal measures.
The latest action follows a similar large-scale operation in Sihanoukville on June 3, when Cambodian authorities detained 111 people over alleged involvement in an online scam network. Officials said 108 of those detained were Indonesian nationals. The Sihanoukville Administrative Command said inspections of locations suspected of hosting scam operations would continue as part of its wider campaign to dismantle online fraud networks in the region.
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