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Cambodia’s former prime minister and current Senate president, Hun Sen, has called for a broader crackdown on public officials linked to online scam operations, including illegal gambling activity. He said authorities should not only arrest fraud suspects but also prosecute and seize the assets of any civil servants found to be involved.
Pressure On Officials
In a statement made on Sunday, Hun Sen said that all the attempts to shut down online fraud rings would be futile until measures to fight corruption and government officials’ collaboration with scammers were implemented too. In particular, he called for imposing sanctions on involved officials and firing those who would refuse to obey.
Hun Sen also warned that provincial governors, military police chiefs, and police station heads, whose failure to comply with instructions of their superiors would result in removal from their posts. Furthermore, he emphasized that taking actions against only the scammers while ignoring corrupt government officials would bring no results.
Scam Networks Under Scrutiny
The comments are made after reports about the crackdown on online scams in Cambodia that gained momentum in the last few years. In fact, according to Xinhua’s reference to a government statement, the Cambodian police carried out raids in over 250 scam centers during a period from July 2025 till mid-April 2026. Among them were 91 casinos allegedly used to support fraudulent operations.
During the same period, authorities also deported 13,039 foreign nationals linked to online scam activity. The figures point to the scale of the ongoing campaign as officials try to dismantle the networks operating in the country.
New Law And Enforcement
Last month, Cambodia adopted a new bill targeting online scams. Those found to be leaders in scam syndicates will be punished with imprisonment of up to 30 years or even life sentences under the law.
The bill is among a number of measures that make up the ongoing campaign against scammers. Hun Sen’s remarks add pressure on public officials to show they are fully backing the crackdown rather than enabling it.
Casino Closing In Poipet
Another example of an effort against scammers in the country was witnessed in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province, where the government authorities reportedly shut down a casino after claims it was being used for scamming purposes. According to a local newspaper, Khmer Times, published yesterday.
The move followed an inspection on 7 May by the General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia, working together with the National Police and the Unified Command of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Administration. Investigators examined the KMH Paradise Tower Casino and Hotel in O’Chrov district after receiving reports linking the premises to online fraud, torture, and the illegal possession of weapons.
According to the Khmer Times, authorities detained 7 suspects, seized a large quantity of electronic equipment, and revoked the casino’s operating licence. The case adds to the broader enforcement effort now underway as Cambodia tries to curb online scam networks and any official involvement linked to them.
Source: GGR Asia
