Background
Immigration enforcement in Cambodia integrates border control procedures with interagency investigation when non-citizens are suspected of involvement in cross-border criminal activity. The General Department of Immigration expelled 180 Vietnamese nationals from Cambodia on 4 June 2026. The removals were processed through the Prek Chak international border post in Kampot province.
GDI reported that 60 of the removed individuals were female and described the action as part of coordinated measures with Vietnamese counterparts and Interior Ministry leadership to address technology-enabled fraud. The department also cited procedures intended to protect victims and enable safe repatriation for foreign nationals who were induced to participate in online scams.
Key Developments
On 4 June 2026, GDI investigative and operational units carried out coordinated removals after following guidance from senior Interior Ministry officials and cooperating with authorities in Vietnam. The operation targeted persons alleged to be involved in online scam activity and cases of illegal residence or unauthorized work, and the group was processed at the international crossing in Kampot province before handover to Vietnamese authorities.
Institutional Role
The General Department of Immigration operates under the Ministry of Interior and is responsible for implementing border control, entry and exit processing, and the removal of foreign nationals who fail to comply with immigration law or who are linked to criminal offences. GDI works with investigative units within the ministry and with foreign counterparts to carry out repatriation and to coordinate follow-up on transnational criminal allegations.
Operational Implications
The removals demonstrate the use of established border-processing points for managed repatriation and the role of bilateral cooperation in addressing transnational online fraud. Entities involved in migrant placement, border management, and victim assistance should note the operational precedent of coordinated removals and repatriation through international crossings such as Prek Chak. Primary reporting on the action was published by the General Department of Immigration on its official social channels.
