Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) administers border control, visa enforcement, and removals at Cambodia’s international checkpoints as part of national migration management. The GDI executes deportation procedures in coordination with other security agencies and foreign diplomatic missions when individuals are assessed to be involved in criminal activity or in breach of immigration rules.
Between 8 and 9 May 2026, Cambodian immigration authorities coordinated the removal of 319 Chinese nationals identified as connected to online scam operations and cases of illegal stay or unauthorised work. The operation included cooperation with the Chinese diplomatic mission and used law-enforcement-managed exits at international airports to effect the removals.
Key Developments
Authorities reported a total of 319 foreigners were expelled in the operation; the group included one female. Of the 319 persons, 166 were processed through the police checkpoint at Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport and 153 were processed through the police checkpoint at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport. The deportations were executed using special flights arranged for outbound removal.
Institutional Role
The removals were carried out under directives from senior government leadership and implemented by the General Department of Immigration in coordination with ministry-level security units. The GDI’s role in such operations includes identification, administrative removal processing at airport checkpoints, and diplomatic coordination with the destination country’s embassy to facilitate return travel.
Source: General Department of Immigration (GDI) social media announcement, 9 May 2026. Original Khmer-language statement: “ជនជាតិចិន ៣១៩នាក់ … ត្រូវបានបណ្ដេញចេញ”.
