Cambodia Says It Will Not Become Safe Haven for International Criminals
Cambodia Says It Will Not Become Safe Haven for International Criminals
SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia, May 20, 2026 — Cambodia said on Wednesday it would not allow the country to become a safe haven for international criminal organisations as authorities and foreign partners launched a regional training programme focused on cybercrime and transnational offences.
The three-day training course in Preah Sihanouk province brought together Cambodian law enforcement officials and representatives from international organisations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), South Korea’s Justice Ministry and the European Union.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, senior Cambodian official Chhay Sinarith said cybercrime and online scam operations had become increasingly complex and could not be addressed by any single country acting alone.
“Almost every country recognises this as a transnational problem that no nation can solve independently,” he said.
“As a small, open and developing country, Cambodia has become a target for foreign criminal networks seeking to use its territory as an operational base. But I want to clearly stress that the Cambodian government will not allow Cambodia to become a safe haven for international criminals,” he added.
The training programme focuses on international legal cooperation in cybercrime investigations, digital evidence management, cross-border criminal investigations and victim protection in human trafficking cases.
Cambodian authorities said the initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of prosecutors, police and related agencies to respond to the rapid evolution of transnational crimes in the digital era.
Officials said online scam networks, human trafficking and cyber-enabled fraud had become top national security priorities, prompting intensified cooperation with foreign governments and international agencies.
The event also reflected growing regional concern over Southeast Asia’s role in transnational cybercrime operations, with scam compounds and trafficking networks increasingly linked to cross-border criminal syndicates operating across the region.
