According to UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews, Cambodian authorities have raided and shut down over 600 scam compounds, detained nearly 30,000 individuals linked to online scams, and initiated criminal proceedings against more than 4,000 suspects. Cambodian officials also informed the rapporteur in July that approximately 300,000 people tied to fraudulent operations had left the country.
The enforcement push followed the formation of a high-level committee in early 2025 and a subsequent nine-point directive ordering strict campus closures and casino license reviews. In April 2026, the National Assembly passed the Law on Combating Online Scams, setting maximum penalties up to life imprisonment. While the sweeps have significantly altered the operating models of scam rings, the UN expert noted that the full scale of the underground industry remains difficult to capture entirely.
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