Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) is the national authority responsible for administering border control, visa enforcement, and deportation procedures for non-citizens in Cambodia. On 15 October 2026, GDI reported the removal of 90 Chinese nationals identified for illegal stay, illegal work, cross-border entry violations, and involvement in online scams.
Deportation operations in Cambodia are processed at international border checkpoints and can use special flights coordinated with foreign diplomatic missions. The reported operation involved cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and was undertaken under directions from senior interior ministry leadership.
Key Developments
GDI stated that 90 Chinese nationals, including three women, were expelled from the Kingdom on the cited date. The individuals were described by authorities as linked to online fraud schemes, unlawful residence, unlawful employment, and illegal border crossings. Removals were executed through the airport police checkpoint at Techo International Airport using a special flight arranged for repatriation.
Enforcement Actions
Authorities indicated that the operation followed investigative procedures and coordination between the GDI investigative unit and the Chinese diplomatic mission in Cambodia. Cambodian officials cited directives from Deputy Prime Minister S. Sokha and senior interior ministry leadership in directing investigative and removal actions. GDI also reported that law-enforcement efforts included assistance to persons identified as victims of online fraud to ensure their safe return to places of origin.
Operational Implications
The case illustrates use of deportation and diplomatic coordination as operational tools in Cambodia’s response to transnational online fraud and related immigration violations. Continued use of airport police checkpoints and special removal flights reflects an operational channel for executing high-volume removals of foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration or criminal statutes.
Source: General Department of Immigration (GDI) public communications and social media postings, 15 October 2026. See original post: https://www.facebook.com/GDIOfficial/posts/pfbid029E1VLD6epCSJQRJ8k55Ldep1Xmx2QtS8nsFwX4yce2sLhjC37gwmvfRJnyJ1gaDJl
