Background
The General Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Interior conducted coordinated operations in the first two weeks of June 2026 to disrupt networks linked to online scams. Within that period, authorities detained 1,332 people across 16 nationalities in actions focused on technology-enabled fraud.
Authorities referred 133 detainees to the General Department of Immigration, prepared 87 case files for court, and continued legal procedures for 1,112 additional individuals. Owners and managers of residential sites that violated Sub‑decree No. 03 on security management at communal living locations were fined a combined total of 197,840,000 riel during the operations.
Key Developments
Operations were conducted across multiple sites and provinces, targeting locations identified as hubs for scam-related activity. Enforcement teams said they disrupted an organized group that monitored law enforcement movements and provided intelligence to alleged ringleaders; authorities arrested 16 individuals identified as masterminds and announced ongoing efforts to locate remaining suspects.
Institutional Role
The Ministry of Interior led multi-agency raids while the General Department of Immigration processed foreign nationals and managed administrative detention and case referrals. Prosecutors and court authorities received prepared case files for a subset of detainees while administrative procedures continued for others.
Compliance Implications
Fines under Sub‑decree No. 03 were applied to operators of communal residential venues found in breach of security and safety requirements, signaling active use of existing administrative instruments against locations facilitating online fraud. Businesses and venue managers operating communal residences face both criminal investigations of occupants and administrative penalties for regulatory breaches.
