In a sustained operation against telecommunications fraud, Cambodian authorities have deported a total of 1,060 Chinese nationals over the past four days and raided the Golden Lion Casino Hotel in Sihanoukville.
On February 10th, authorities raided the Golden Lion Casino Hotel in Sihanoukville, detaining approximately 805 foreign nationals from seven countries, most of whom are Chinese.
This follows a previous operation on January 31st in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, where around 2,044 people were arrested at a suspected telecom fraud compound.
According to The Khmer Times, many more suspects, including a significant number of Chinese citizens, remain in centralized holding facilities as the government accelerates its nationwide crackdown.
They are undergoing legal investigation and review pending further action and possible deportation. Given the large scale and complex backgrounds of those involved, the repatriation process is being conducted in phases.
Under a bilateral law enforcement cooperation framework, Chinese officers have been dispatched to Cambodia to assist in the operation. During the handover, suspects were verified, assigned identification numbers, and transported under tight security to the airport by Cambodian personnel.
Chinese law enforcement officials participated throughout the escort process, coordinating closely with Cambodian counterparts to ensure secure and orderly transfers, boarding, and departures.
In an interview with The Khmer Times, Interior Ministry spokesperson Khieu Sopheak stated that a nationwide campaign to eradicate telecom and online fraud is now fully underway. The government aims to complete this sweep across Cambodia by the end of April this year.
