Cambodian authorities have arrested dozens of foreign nationals in a major Phnom Penh raid, marking an escalation in efforts against transnational cyber fraud following heightened diplomatic pressure from South Korea.
Fifty-seven South Koreans and 29 Chinese citizens were taken into custody during a sweep earlier this week on Wednesday at a building suspected of housing a cross-border online scam operation. Police seized 126 computers and 30 mobile phones during the raid.
The arrests were announced Thursday by Cambodia’s Anti-Cybercrime Committee. They follow just days after Cambodia repatriated 64 South Koreans implicated in “pig butchering” scam networks, a type of long-term financial fraud.
This recent crackdown aligns with intensified diplomatic engagement from Seoul. South Korean officials had met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and local police last week to discuss fraudulent job agencies and scam operations. Public outcry in South Korea, fueled by the torture and death of a student earlier this year reportedly linked to such gangs, has amplified calls for action.
Cambodia has become a significant hub for a multi-billion dollar cyber fraud industry. Experts estimate thousands of individuals are involved, with some participating willingly and others forced into labor by criminal organizations.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry estimates that approximately 1,000 of its citizens are among an estimated 200,000 people working in these illicit centers across Cambodia. Since last year, about 550 South Koreans have been reported missing or unwillingly detained after entering the country.
Earlier this week on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reported the arrest of 10 additional fraud suspects and the rescue of two victims, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat these syndicates.