Phnom Penh Busts 139 Cyber Scam Hubs, Detains 2,389 Foreign Suspects in H1

Phnom Penh authorities busted 139 online scam centers and detained 2,389 foreign suspects from 27 nationalities during the first half of 2026, marking a significant escalation in Cambodia's nationwide crackdown on cyber fraud. Speaking on Wednesday, Phnom Penh Municipal Administration spokesperson Ms. Dor Samphors revealed that law enforcement teams inspected 17,491 residential complexes and shared-accommodation properties between January and June. The inspections identified 116,700 foreign nationals – ncluding 34,442 women – across 75 nationalities, resulting in the disruption of 139 cyber scam operations, the detention of 2,389 individuals (357 women), and the seizure of key digital infrastructure. The operations reflect intensified enforcement under the Royal Government’s "Safe Village-Commune-Sangkat" policy, led by Phnom Penh Governor H.E. Khuong Sreng in his capacity as Chairman of the Municipal Unified Command. The latest H1 results bring the cumulative tally of the city's anti-cybercrime campaign – launched on July 1, 2025 – to 184 scam operations dismantled and 3,660 suspects (582 women) detained across 19,504 property inspections. Over the 12-month period ending June 30, 2026, authorities also penalized 107 property owners for intentionally concealing 689 unregistered foreign residents, assessing total administrative fines of approximately 2.756 billion Riel (approximately US$689,000). By K. Rithy Reak