Cambodia Commits to Disbanding Fraudulent Real Estate Complexes, Overlooking Major Operators Remains Unaddressed
The Cambodian government has launched its largest crackdown to date on the online scam industry, resulting in the arrests of over 3,000 suspects from at least 19 countries, including significant numbers of foreign nationals. This operation, initiated in mid-2025, reflects strong top-level political will, with Prime Minister Hun Manet issuing direct orders and threatening officials with dismissal if they fail to act.
The raids, conducted at nearly 140 locations, targeted numerous scam compounds, call centers, and related facilities across multiple provinces. The crackdown received praise from China and other countries, but concerns about human trafficking and modern slavery linked to the scam industry remain highly contested.
Cambodian authorities claim most detainees were not held against their will. However, research and reports highlight that many individuals found in these scam compounds have actually been trafficked or deceived into forced labor under conditions akin to modern slavery. Some analyses characterize the crackdown as largely symbolic or "reform theater," arguing that powerful networks enabling these operations—often with political protection—remain largely untouched.
Critics warn that while frontline operatives and workers are swept up in arrests, the masterminds and systemic enablers behind the scams are rarely prosecuted, limiting the crackdown’s long-term impact on dismantling the exploitative structures driving trafficking and forced labor in the sector.
Telegram channels used by cyber criminals went into a frenzy, warning others of the seriousness of the crackdown. Some posts claimed that police were setting up roadblocks across the country, while others alleged that police were demanding bribes for the release of detainees or that people were being detained without passports.
The crackdown was acknowledged by Prime Minister Hun Manet on Jul 16. Despite the scale of the operation and the government's pledge, there is widespread scepticism that these efforts will be enough to dismantle the industry. Continuing international pressure and scrutiny, including concerns about Cambodia's Tier 3 ranking in the upcoming U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, underscore ongoing challenges.
Sources:
- The Phnom Penh Post
- Voice of America
- Asia Times
- The Straits Times
- The Diplomat
The Cambodian crackdown on online scams, a political move initiated by Prime Minister Hun Manet, has garnered coverage in general-news outlets and commentary on crime-and-justice. While the operation targets scam activities and has resulted in the arrest of over 3,000 suspects, critics argue that the focus is mainly on frontline operatives, leaving powerful networks and systemic enablers, often with political protection, untouched. This raises questions about the long-term impact of the crackdown on dismantling the industry's exploitative structures, as highlighted in reports from The Phnom Penh Post, Voice of America, Asia Times, The Straits Times, and The Diplomat.
