SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia — Provincial Authorities Report Massive Two-Year Sweep Against Online Scam Centers

Sihanoukville, Cambodia, 9 June 2026 (issued under the traditional Cambodian calendar as 8 Jesht, Buddhist Era 2570)

In a formal press release titled "Results of the Crackdown on Technology-Based Online Scam Crimes and Inspections of Suspected Locations in Preah Sihanouk Province," the administration said it acted on the "highest instruction" of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Chairman of the National Committee for Combating Online Scams.

The operation was carried out by the Provincial Unified Command, in cooperation with:

• the Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Online Scams (N.C.C.O.S.)
• the "Snaeb Neak Porn" unit
• with procedural coordination from the representative of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court Prosecutor

The latest sweep inspected 39 buildings across the province, covering both licensed casinos and non-casino sites.

The two-year tally: July 2024 to June 2026

According to the release, the joint task force has since July 2024:

• Inspected 1,329 locations in total
• Confirmed and shut down 103 locations operating online scams
• Identified 49 locations housing foreigners staying illegally

People detained

• Total persons found: 4,841
  • Cambodians: 365
  • Foreigners: 4,476 (from 26 nationalities)

Breakdown of actions:

• 3,785 suspects, case files built and forwarded to the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court
• 3,206 foreigners, transferred to the General Department of Immigration for deportation procedures
• 435 foreigners, remain in process at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Police Commissariat

Materials and cash seized

The task force listed an extensive inventory confiscated "to continue legal procedure":

• Desktop computers: 16,911 units
• Laptops: 406 units
• Mobile phones: 40,852 units
• CPUs (separate): 864 units
• Monitors: 1,216 units
• Tablets: 773 units
• Routers: 407 units
• Modems: 34 units
• Output/projector devices: 2 units
• Short firearms: 2 pistols
• Narcotics: 10 packets
• Pills: 122 tablets
• Cash:
  • USD 64,840
  • Thai baht 1,200
  • Cambodian riel 23,160,000

Fines, seizures and license revocations

• 45 property owners were fined for allowing illegal foreign residence. Total fines collected: 1,954,600,000 riel (about $475,000 USD).
• The Provincial Court Prosecutor ordered the temporary seizure of 6 locations, covering nearly 5 hectares and comprising 12 buildings. From those sites authorities confiscated:
  • USD 72,609.30
  • Riel 2,537,475.45
  • Baht 9,100
  • Chinese yuan 2,000
• In a parallel action, the Provincial Unified Command working with Task Force 2 of the N.C.C.O.S. Secretariat inspected and closed 64 locations for operating without proper authorization.
• The Cambodian Commercial Gambling Management Commission (C.G.M.C.) revoked the casino licenses of 11 establishments found linked to scam operations.

Public appeal

"To uplift national honor and that of Preah Sihanouk," the administration appealed to all citizens and journalists to provide confidential tips on suspected online scams to the hotline 062 557 117.

It warned residents and landlords that anyone who "touches" or facilitates online scam crimes, or who rents property without checking legal status, "must bear responsibility before the law."

The statement concludes with a pledge: the Provincial Unified Command "is determined to continue to clean and eradicate online scam crimes (ONLINE SCAMS) from the geography of Preah Sihanouk province."

This province-level two-year figure on Cambodia's nationwide anti-scam drive, nearly 5,000 people processed, over 57,000 electronic devices seized, and 11 casinos stripped of licenses in Sihanoukville alone demonstrates Cambodia's resolution against transnational organized cybercrimes.