Thai Political Naiveté Warned About in Cambodia Dispute: Military Advisory Demonstrates Concerns Regarding Thai Government's Inadequate Understanding in Cambodia Conflict
In a seminar held on July 5, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, MP from the People's Party, along with other speakers, discussed the complex and high-profile financial investigation surrounding the Huione Group Cambodia. The group is reportedly linked to a transnational money laundering network, with strong evidence connecting it to the family circle of Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.
The Huione Group, a major Cambodian financial conglomerate, has been identified by multiple sources, including Thai Cyber Crime Investigation authorities and the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), as a key node in this network. This network is alleged to have laundered billions of baht and dollars from cybercrime activities such as online gambling scams, call centre frauds, and North Korean cyber heists totaling over US$4 billion (approximately 140 billion baht) in illicit funds laundered between 2021 and 2025[1][2][3].
The group's operations reportedly involve converting illicit funds from scams into cryptocurrency through mule accounts and then back into cash or physical goods, facilitating wide-scale money laundering[1][3]. The U.S. formally blacklisted Huione Group in May 2025 due to its central role in laundering proceeds from large-scale scams, including "pig butchering" call-centre fraud and cyberattacks attributed to North Korea[2].
Thai authorities have uncovered links suggesting the Huione Group is controlled or heavily influenced by a relative of Cambodian strongman Hun Sen, raising concerns over Cambodia’s governance and political influence on illicit financial networks[1][3]. Cambodia’s central bank revoked Huione Pay’s license in March 2025 due to regulatory violations linked to these suspicious activities. The group is also reportedly associated with powerful political and business networks within Cambodia, including connections to ruling party elites and Chinese-backed entities engaged in casino and Special Economic Zone operations[2][4].
The exposure of Huione Group’s involvement in money laundering tied to scams targeting Thai citizens has heightened tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Evidence presented by Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office and Cyber Crime units to the Thai House Military Affairs Committee has spurred calls for urgent investigations[1]. Hun Sen’s aggressive rhetoric, including threats to expose political figures in Thailand before protests, has intensified a border crisis and diplomatic strain, fueled by the unraveling of his alleged criminal empire linked to Huione Group activities[1].
The nexus of cybercrime, money laundering, and political patronage in Cambodia represents a significant challenge to law enforcement cooperation and regional security. The cross-border flow of illicit funds and scam operations along the Thai-Cambodian border further complicates efforts to resolve longstanding disputes and maintain stability[2][4].
Supalak Ganjanakhundee, one of the speakers at the seminar, stressed the importance of coordinated action by regional governments to address the activities of Huione Group Cambodia. He also emphasised his intentions to raise the bar for Thai and Cambodian law enforcement cooperation and promote international legal standards. Supalak warned against relying on military measures in dealing with territorial disputes, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian border. He proposed that Thai authorities thoroughly investigate whether Cambodian call centre operations are conducting financial transactions through Thailand.
Seehanat Prayoonrat, another speaker, warned about the risk of global blacklisting for countries perceived as safe havens for criminal enterprises or lacking robust enforcement. He mentioned Iran, North Korea, and Cambodia as high-risk jurisdictions. Seehanat expressed confidence that cross-border cooperation is key to effective suppression of transnational crime.
This case underscores the intersection of cybercrime, political patronage, and regional security challenges worsening the Thai-Cambodian dispute[1][2][3][4]. It serves as a reminder of the need for enhanced international cooperation and adherence to legal standards to combat money laundering and maintain regional stability.
- The discussion in the seminar involved the complex financial investigation of the Huione Group Cambodia, which is linked to a transnational money laundering network.
- The Huione Group, a major Cambodian financial conglomerate, has been identified as a key node in this network, with evidence suggesting its operations involve money laundering through cryptocurrency and other means.
- The exposure of the Huione Group's involvement in money laundering has heightened tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, with calls for urgent investigations and concerns over political influence on illicit financial networks.
- Regional governments, including Thailand, are emphasizing the importance of coordinated action and international legal standards to address the activities of transnational crime networks like the Huione Group Cambodia.
