Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) administers Cambodia’s immigration control measures, including border screening, detention, and deportation procedures for foreign nationals who violate immigration rules. The department coordinates repatriation operations with foreign diplomatic missions when removals involve cooperation with the individuals’ country of nationality.
On 16 June 2026, GDI coordinated with the Chinese embassy to repatriate 164 Chinese nationals linked to online-scamming operations and cases of unlawful stay or work. Deportations were executed by a special flight through the border police post at Techo International Airport.
Key Developments
Authorities removed a total of 164 Chinese nationals, including six women, on 16 June 2026 after investigations identified involvement in technology-enabled scams and instances of unauthorized residence or employment in Cambodia. The General Department of Immigration said the removals followed high-level recommendations from senior Ministry of Interior leaders and direction from the Immigration Director-General.
Enforcement Actions
GDI applied established removal procedures that included coordination with the Chinese diplomatic mission and use of a dedicated deportation flight operating from the airport’s border police checkpoint. The operation cited both immigration grounds (illegal stay/unauthorized work) and criminal allegations related to online fraud as the basis for repatriation.
Operational Implications
The case illustrates the use of embassy-level cooperation in repatriation of foreign nationals accused of technology-enabled crime and highlights border police facilitation of special removal flights at major international air gateways. Immigration authorities are likely to continue applying cross-agency and diplomatic channels when removals involve transnational criminal allegations.
Source
Original report and departmental postings: General Department of Immigration (GDI) social channels and website: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1719187959273776/; https://www.immigration.gov.kh
