Phnom Penh Cracks Down on 218 Crimes in First Half of Year, Prioritizing Public Safety

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The administration of Phnom Penh has reported a significant effort in maintaining public order and security during the first half of 2026, under the "Safe Village-Commune-District" policy. A total of 218 criminal cases were cracked down upon, encompassing various offenses including drug crimes, human trafficking, gang activities, and illegal gambling. This initiative is led by Governor Khuong Sreng, who also chairs the Phnom Penh Capital City Unity Command. According to Ms. Dau Samphos, Deputy Director of Administration and spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Administration, the crackdown has been a priority. In a report to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha during a progress review meeting on August 3, 2026, Governor Khuong Sreng highlighted the administration's commitment. The Phnom Penh Capital City Unity Command itself was responsible for cracking down on 209 of these cases, representing 95.87% of the total, leading to the arrest of 269 individuals. Ms. Samphos further elaborated on the intensified efforts against technological fraud, commonly known as online scams. These operations are conducted in active compliance with government directives, including Order No. 01 B.B. dated July 4, 2025, and Sub-decree No. 03 ANK.BK dated January 5, 2026, which focus on security and safety management in concentrated living areas. During the first half of 2026, administrative inspections were carried out at 17,491 collective living locations within Phnom Penh. These inspections identified 116,700 foreign nationals (34,442 women) from 75 nationalities. Within these, 139 cases related to online scams were uncovered, resulting in the arrest of 2,389 individuals (357 women) from 27 nationalities. Various materials were also confiscated as evidence. Looking at the broader campaign period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the Phnom Penh Committee for Combating Technological Scams inspected 19,504 collective living locations. They identified 136,831 foreign nationals (40,272 women) from 75 nationalities. A total of 184 online scam cases were cracked down upon, with 3,660 individuals (582 women) from 27 nationalities arrested. Additionally, numerous items were seized. Fines totaling approximately 2.756 billion Cambodian Riel (around $689,000 USD) were imposed on 107 location owners who intentionally concealed the presence of foreign nationals on their properties. Source: CEN Cambodia