Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) is the national agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and administering entry, stay and removal procedures for foreign nationals in Cambodia. The directorate executes border-control operations in coordination with other interior ministries and diplomatic missions to address illegal residence and cross-border criminal activity.
Cambodian immigration authorities have statutory authority to expel foreign nationals for illegal stay, involvement in criminal activity, or breach of visa conditions. Operational tools commonly used in removal operations include special charter flights and formal coordination with foreign embassies to repatriate the affected individuals.
Key Developments
On 11 May 2026 the General Department of Immigration carried out a removal operation that expelled 331 Chinese nationals, including three women, who were identified as connected to online scam activities and cases of illegal residence. The removals were implemented on the recommendation of senior Ministry of Interior leadership and executed via special flights through Phnom Penh International Airport (Techo), with coordination between the GDI and the Chinese embassy.
Institutional Role
The removal operation involved cooperation between the GDI and investigation units within the Ministry of Interior to identify and process the individuals for repatriation. The GDI also reported measures to assist persons identified as victims of coercion or deception to return to their country of origin.
Operational Implications
This case illustrates the use of repatriation flights and embassy coordination as operational mechanisms available to Cambodian immigration authorities when addressing transnational online fraud and illegal stay. Such operations typically rely on investigative referrals, inter-agency clearance, and diplomatic contact to complete removals in accordance with national procedures.
