Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) enforces immigration control through detention, investigation, and removal procedures for foreign nationals who breach Cambodian immigration laws or engage in criminal conduct. The department’s investigative unit executes deportation processes in coordination with other ministries and foreign diplomatic missions when cases involve transnational criminal activity.
On 26 May 2026 the GDI directed the deportation of 173 Chinese nationals, including six women, who were identified in cases related to online scam operations and irregular residence or employment. The deportations were executed via special flights and processed through the international airport police checkpoint at Techo International Airport.
Key Developments
Following high-level recommendations from senior interior ministry leadership and the deputy prime minister, the GDI instructed its investigative department to apply established deportation procedures for the identified group. The department coordinated with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China as part of the removal process. GDI published social-media links for public information and confirmed that removals were carried out on special aircraft.
Operational Implications
The action documents the use of inter-agency direction and diplomatic coordination in handling cases that combine immigration violations with transnational online fraud. Recorded details — date of action, headcount, gender breakdown, and use of special flights through airport police checkpoints — create a procedural reference for future operational planning and case reporting within Cambodia’s immigration enforcement framework.
Sources
Primary source: General Department of Immigration social-media post and official channels (GDI Facebook/TikTok/Telegram and www.immigration.gov.kh).
