Background
Cybercrime enforcement in Cambodia can involve physical site inspections when online fraud operations are suspected of using buildings, communications devices, identity documents, and controlled workspaces. Online scam operations can require premises, communications equipment, controlled documents, and personnel management, which makes building inspections relevant to cybercrime enforcement. Casino-linked properties in border cities can become subject to police attention when premises are suspected of hosting technology-enabled fraud rather than licensed gaming activity.
Poipet is a border city in Banteay Meanchey province on Cambodia’s trade and travel corridor with Thailand. The National Police of Cambodia is the central police institution responsible for public security and criminal law-enforcement operations at the national level. Joint participation by national police units, provincial authorities, prosecutors, provincial police, and gendarmerie reflects a multi-agency enforcement mechanism for cases that may involve cross-border suspects, seized documents, and digital evidence.
Key Developments
On 7 May 2026, specialized forces from the General Commissariat of National Police and the Banteay Meanchey provincial administration conducted administrative inspections at KMH Paradise Tower Casino and another building in Poipet city, Banteay Meanchey province.
Police reported that 19 foreign suspects were found during the operation, along with evidence described as being used for online scam activity. At the first site, a casino building of more than 10 floors, authorities reported finding seven Indonesian and Chinese nationals, passports, equipment allegedly used for technology-enabled fraud, and items described by police as torture tools. At the second site, authorities reported finding 12 foreign nationals who had allegedly been hiding from law-enforcement officers.
Institutional Role
The operation was carried out under an order from National Police Commissioner General Sar Thet and led by Deputy National Police Commissioner General Yim Leang. The action was coordinated with a representative of the prosecutor attached to the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court of First Instance and included participation from the provincial administration, provincial police commissioner’s office, and provincial gendarmerie.
Prosecutor coordination is significant in criminal investigations because search activity, evidence handling, and case transfer must be aligned with procedural requirements. The involvement of provincial and national institutions also shows how cybercrime enforcement can connect local premises control with national-level criminal investigation capacity.
Operational Implications
The National Police reported that specialist forces were continuing searches and evidence collection for further handling according to legal procedure. The operation documents an enforcement pattern in which suspected online scam activity is investigated through inspections of physical buildings, seizure of digital or documentary materials, and identification of foreign nationals present at the premises.
Source: National Police of Cambodia.
