Cambodia Deports Over 70,000 Foreigners in Over 3 Years, Many Linked to Online Scams

The Ministry of Interior announced that from September 1, 2023, to September 13, 2026, during the term of the 7th mandate government, immigration officials deported a total of 72,426 foreigners who were illegally residing in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Of this total, 8,994 were women, and they represented 96 nationalities. Mr. Touch Sopheak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, stated that the deported foreigners were from 11 nationalities, with the majority being Chinese nationals, numbering 32,395. Among them, 13,619 were linked to online scams. Following closely were Indonesian nationals, totaling 10,568, with 2,470 connected to online scams, and Vietnamese nationals, numbering 8,737, with 4,986 involved in online scams. Furthermore, Pakistani nationals, numbering 3,549, with 764 linked to online scams, and Bangladeshi nationals, totaling 3,364, with 852 involved in online scams, were also deported. Myanmar nationals, numbering 2,395, with 776 linked to online scams, and Thai nationals, totaling 2,385, with 1,296 connected to online scams, were among those expelled. In addition, Indian nationals numbered 1,921 (575 linked to online scams), Filipino nationals 1,155 (97 linked to online scams), Ugandan nationals 1,111 (12 linked to online scams), and South Korean nationals 577 (256 linked to online scams). As of September, there are a total of 1,605 foreigners from 30 nationalities residing in five deportation centers, awaiting repatriation. Among these, 469 individuals from 15 nationalities are staying and working illegally, with connections to online scams. Notably, in the first eight months of 2026, the General Department of Immigration had already deported a total of 52,224 illegal foreign residents (6,288 women, from 85 nationalities). Of these, 18,393 individuals (2,174 women) from 38 nationalities were found to be staying and working illegally, with links to online scams. Source: CEN Cambodia