On September 4, acting on higher-level orders, authorities in Phnom Penh deported 86 Vietnamese citizens accused of various illegal activities. The group included 28 women. According to local media, they were tied to a long list of offenses, ranging from illegal border crossings, drug use, and organized crime to overstaying visas, working without permits, and online scams.
To be honest, people around here are pretty much used to this by now. Over the last few years, raids on scam compounds in Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh have become a revolving door for shady characters. Walk past any shuttered shophouse or compound perimeter, and you’ll see patrolling police and flashing lights. There’s always a tense, something's-about-to-blow vibe in the air.
Local officials didn't mince words this time, making it clear that the crackdown on cross-border crime and illegal stays will keep going. For those of us sitting on the sidewalk sipping iced coffee and watching the endless sea of motorbikes roll by, having a few fewer scammer scum around makes everyday life feel just a bit more settled.
