Background
The General Department of Immigration carried out the deportation of 319 Chinese nationals linked to online scams on 20 June 2026 following high-level directives and coordination with diplomatic partners.
The operation returned 166 nationals (including nine women) via a special flight from Phnom Penh Techo International Airport and 153 nationals (including four women) via a special flight from Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. The department described the removals as executed under legal procedures and in cooperation with the Chinese embassy to repatriate individuals associated with technology-enabled fraud.
Key Developments
On 20 June 2026 the General Department of Immigration announced the removal of a total of 319 Chinese nationals, of whom 13 were women. The department said the departures used two special charter flights: a Phnom Penh departure carrying 166 people (nine women) and a Siem Reap departure carrying 153 people (four women). The statement cites compliance with legal measures and direct coordination with the Chinese diplomatic mission in Cambodia.
Institutional Role
Immigration authorities in Cambodia operate removal and repatriation procedures in coordination with other ministries, law enforcement units, and foreign missions when cases involve alleged criminal activity. The General Department of Immigration manages operational logistics for repatriation, which can include detention, case processing, and arranging charter flights in partnership with airlines and embassies.
Operational Implications
The use of special flights for mass repatriation demonstrates a logistical approach to returning large groups of foreign nationals in a single operation. Coordination with the embassy of the nationals’ country of origin is a consistent mechanism for confirming identities and arranging onward travel in repatriation cases involving alleged cross-border criminality.
Source: General Department of Immigration (GDI) Facebook post, 22 June 2026: https://www.facebook.com/GDIOfficial/posts/pfbid02ZQy268wyxt6uECzhJYMYsYVbpcE6AXjgmxjnxvMUMjtcr8zixHvijZ382p4mDsQ3l
