Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) administers border control and enforces rules governing foreign nationals’ entry, stay, and exit in Cambodia.
On 21 August 2026, immigration authorities expelled 47 Vietnamese nationals through the Phnom Den international border checkpoint in Takeo province after investigators linked them to online scams and other criminal offenses.
The removals followed investigative findings that the group was associated with multiple criminal activities including unlawful possession of narcotics, illegal gambling operations, unlawful residence or employment, and technology-enabled fraud. Government statements cited executive directives calling for strict removal of foreign nationals involved in criminal conduct to protect public order and national security.
Key Developments
GDI reported that the operation was carried out under instructions from senior Interior Ministry leadership and involved investigative units executing standard removal procedures at an international border post. The agency identified 47 individuals (including 11 women) for expulsion based on combined investigative evidence of involvement in online scams and related offences.
Authorities also stated that the enforcement action included efforts to locate and assist victims of fraud, with affected persons receiving support to return safely to their places of origin.
Institutional Role
The General Department of Immigration executes expulsions and border removals in coordination with investigative departments and other Interior Ministry units when foreign nationals are suspected of criminal conduct. Immigration checkpoints such as Phnom Den function as authorized exit points where formal removal procedures and cross-border handovers are completed.
