Authorities Crack Down on Foreign Residents and Online Gambling Den in Phnom Penh Outskirts

Authorities in Por Sen Chey district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on September 20, 2026, inspected the residency of foreign nationals and cracked down on an online gambling location. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the administration of Chom Chao III commune. The unified command of Por Sen Chey district, led by Deputy District Governor Yin Kia, in collaboration with the administration of Chom Chao III commune, led by Commune Chief Va Savorn, and their working teams, inspected foreign nationals residing in rental rooms. The objective was to prevent foreigners from residing without proper documentation, such as passports or valid visas, and to prevent their involvement in illegal online scam activities. According to Commune Chief Va Savorn, during this operation, no significant issues were noted regarding foreign residents. However, they did discover and crack down on an illegal online gambling location, specifically a lottery operation. Materials were confiscated, and further guidance was provided regarding gambling activities prohibited by the government. This crackdown is seen as part of a broader effort to heighten vigilance against illegal activities by transnational criminal organizations, particularly in areas with a significant foreign resident population. Online scams and gambling have seen a rising trend in the Southeast Asian region in recent years.