Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) implements border-control and removal procedures for foreign nationals who are suspected of criminal conduct or unlawful stay. The GDI operates investigation and operational units that coordinate removals through airport police checkpoints and liaison with foreign diplomatic missions.
On 21 May 2026, Cambodian immigration investigators carried out an expulsion operation involving foreign nationals accused of online-scamming and related offences; the removals were completed via a special charter flight. Deportation procedures in Cambodia typically involve identification by immigration investigators, processing at airport police checkpoints, and cooperation with the diplomatic mission of the destination country for return arrangements.
Key Developments
Authorities announced the removal of 165 Chinese nationals, including 7 women, who were identified as linked to online-scamming operations and cases of illegal residence or unauthorised work. The operation followed guidance from senior officials and was conducted in coordination with the Chinese embassy and the immigration investigation directorate.
Institutional Role
The General Department of Immigration carried out the investigative and operational tasks for the removals and worked with airport police to process departures through Techo International Airport checkpoints. Diplomatic coordination with the embassy of the nationals’ country of origin was used to arrange repatriation on the special flight.
Operational Implications
The use of a special charter flight and processing at an international airport checkpoint demonstrates an operational pathway for large-scale removals involving foreign nationals accused of technology-enabled crimes. Records of such operations create administrative and diplomatic precedents for coordinating evacuation, repatriation, and victim-referral steps in cross-border online-fraud cases.
