Cambodia Charges More Than 50 in Ongoing Scam and Money Laundering Crackdown

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Cambodian authorities have charged more than 50 Chinese and Cambodian nationals in relation to a series of fraud and money laundering cases uncovered across the country.

According to court statements cited by The Phnom Penh Post, 40 of these suspects were arrested in a case in the province of Tbong Khmum. The group includes 38 Chinese nationals and two Cambodians, who face charges including online fraud, entering Cambodia illegally, and conspiracy to organize a cyber scam center. Authorities believe the operation may have been active since 2024.

The Cambodian government has advanced new legislation imposing penalties of up to life imprisonment for major scam operators.

In Battambang province, authorities raided the Eagle King Casino and arrested nine Chinese and three Cambodian nationals in a separate case believed to have been in operation since March 2026. Authorities have also seized 13 bank accounts and nine properties believed to be associated with the network. 

A third case in Sihanoukville saw two Chinese nationals and one Cambodian detained over alleged online fraud and money laundering offenses committed from a townhouse between January and April 2026.

Most of the arrested suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention. However, Cambodian authorities continue to search for wanted senior figures and accomplices linked to the networks, naming Xu Liang Cai and Aydin Cm.

While the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has praised Cambodia’s increased enforcement, investigator and founder of Operation Shamrock Erin West uncovered that scam compounds remained an issue in the country. This matches earlier concerns shared by Amnesty International.