Cambodia Intensifies Crackdown as Scam Gangs Flee Ahead of Deadline

A Cambodian military official shows computer equipment seized from raided cyberscam centres on March 11. Photo: AFP

PHNOM PENH, March 2026 — Cambodia is intensifying a sweeping crackdown on online scam networks, with authorities setting an ambitious deadline to eliminate operations nationwide as criminal groups begin fleeing enforcement pressure.

The government has pledged to shut down scam centres by April, ramping up raids, arrests and deportations as part of a broader campaign against transnational cybercrime.

Officials say the crackdown has already led to the closure of a large majority of identified scam sites, with thousands of workers repatriated and suspected ringleaders targeted.

The intensified campaign follows growing international cooperation, including with China and the United States, reflecting Cambodia’s stronger commitment to tackling organised crime networks operating within its borders.

Authorities say the operation is aimed not only at dismantling criminal syndicates but also at protecting victims of trafficking and restoring Cambodia’s security and international reputation.

Analysts note that enforcement pressure has already forced many scam operators to abandon compounds and relocate, signaling the impact of the government’s sustained actions.

South China Morning Post