Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) carries out border control, residency screening, and deportation operations at international checkpoints such as Bavet in Svay Rieng province. The GDI executes deportations following direction from senior Ministry of Interior leadership when individuals are identified as involved in criminal activity or found to be residing in the country illegally.
Immigration operations are a governance mechanism used to remove non-citizens who are linked to criminal networks, detained for immigration violations, or found in possession of illegal substances without proper documentation. The department coordinates investigative checks and administrative removal procedures through its investigative directorate and border posts to restore legal status of the border and to facilitate repatriation.
Key Developments
On 30 June 2026, the General Department of Immigration implemented removals of 173 Vietnamese nationals identified in connection with online scam activities. The group included 41 women and was processed for deportation at the Bavet international checkpoint in Svay Rieng province.
Authorities cited multiple grounds for removal, including alleged involvement in technology-facilitated fraud, unlawful possession of controlled substances without cross-border permits, and irregular or illegal stay. The operation was carried out following recommendations from senior officials in the Ministry of Interior and leadership of the GDI.
Operational Implications
The case illustrates the use of immigration checkpoints as operational nodes for conducting large-scale removals tied to cyber-enabled crime. Border posts such as Bavet function as primary points for exit processing and immediate repatriation when administrative removal is ordered.
For countries and actors tracking technology-enabled criminal networks, recorded deportations with dates, passenger counts, and checkpoint locations provide verifiable data points for mapping enforcement patterns and cross-border case outcomes.
Source
Primary reporting: General Department of Immigration (GDI) social media statement, 30 June 2026. Source link: https://www.facebook.com/GDIOfficial/posts/pfbid022MLGcnQGZdz6QQ2Fdhxif81eFs4xnQx2WxaGJVqASjHNksMb6GheYyxrQhNft6aNl
