- Cambodia has deported 48,000 foreign nationals in a massive crackdown on scam centers, announced Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha.
- Sokha warned the police force is “stretched thin” with one officer per 3,100 citizens, prompting a new tipster reward program.
- The government will implement new exit restrictions at airports to prevent human trafficking.
- Asia’s pig-butchering crypto scams have been significantly disrupted by recent arrests, including alleged kingpin Chen Zhi.
- An ongoing armed border conflict with Thailand further strains Cambodia’s resources.
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha announced last Tuesday that 48,000 foreign nationals have been deported since the 2023 launch of a widespread scam center crackdown, reportedly during a “Safer Internet Day” campaign. However, he cautioned that the nation’s police force is “stretched thin” with roughly one officer for every 3,100 citizens.
Consequently, authorities plan to pay residents for tips leading to scam compounds. Sokha said, “We cannot do this alone. We need local residents to be our ‘eyes and ears’ to help sweep these operations out of our country.”
Meanwhile, the government will introduce exit restrictions at airports to stop trafficking victims. This will involve checks on women aged 18–35 with unclear documentation and tourists with very little money.
The recent crackdown has significantly disrupted scam center compounds, particularly after the arrest of alleged kingpin Chen Zhi. Thousands linked to these operations in casinos have been deported.
Most deportees are trafficking victims forced to conduct “pig-butchering” crypto scams. Chinese nationals often comprise the bulk, though victims come from across Asia and, rarely, America.
On top of the 48,000 deportations, Sokha stated around 210,000 foreign nationals have voluntarily left Cambodia. While the scam crackdown contributed, the country’s ongoing armed conflict with Thailand, which escalated in May 2025, is also a factor.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens have reportedly been displaced, with at least 149 killed. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed yesterday that Thai forces are still occupying its territory despite a December peace deal.
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