Former Phnom Penh Deputy Police Chief Arrested for Illegal Trade

In Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, former Phnom Penh Deputy Police Chief Chea Rotha, along with four accomplices, has reportedly been arrested by specialized authorities in connection with the illegal smuggling of goods from Thailand into Cambodia. Police officials stated that the arrests took place in Chamkar Kor village, Svay Chek commune, Svay Chek district, Banteay Meanchey province, as authorities were cracking down on unauthorized cross-border smuggling activities. Following questioning and legal procedures, Chea Rotha and her accomplices have been transferred to the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court for further legal proceedings. Currently, Chea Rotha and her four accomplices are being detained at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison as of August 26, 2026, awaiting subsequent legal procedures. The arrests occurred at a time when authorities are intensifying checks and crackdowns on illegal cross-border smuggling in the Cambodia-Thailand border areas. Attempts to contact the suspects for comment on the case were unsuccessful. Source: CEN Cambodia