Background
Immigration enforcement in Cambodia encompasses border checks, detention of foreign nationals found in breach of entry or stay rules, and removal procedures carried out under Interior Ministry direction. On 2 September 2026, the General Department of Immigration (GDI) deported 122 Chinese nationals from Cambodia.
Authorities identified the group as linked to online scam operations and without valid travel documents; the deportation included three women and used a special flight departing from Techo International Airport. Prime Minister Hun Manet has publicly urged that Cambodia not be used as a base for transnational criminal activity and directed authorities to remove illegal or criminal foreign actors.
Key Developments
On 2 September 2026, GDI announced the removal of 122 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in online scams and other offenses. The agency said the individuals were expelled from the country through a special aircraft operation at Techo International Airport following investigations that reported unlawful stay and involvement in technology-enabled fraud.
The removal was presented by GDI as carried out in line with national directives to combat technology-enabled crime and to safeguard border integrity; the department published details of the operation on its official social channels.
Institutional Role
The General Department of Immigration is the national authority responsible for implementing immigration controls, processing visa and stay-status issues, and coordinating deportation procedures with airport policing and the Interior Ministry. Deportation operations such as special flights are a tool used by immigration authorities to return foreign nationals who are found to be in breach of immigration or criminal laws.
Operational Implications
The operation highlights operational practices used in removal cases: coordinated investigation by immigration investigators, identification of unlawful stay or criminal linkage, and use of designated flights for repatriation. For foreign nationals and employers, the case signals continued enforcement attention on residency status and technology-enabled crime networks operating from within Cambodia.
Source
Original announcement published by the General Department of Immigration on its official social channels: GDI Facebook post, 3 September 2026.
