Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Cambodia has deported 64 South Korean nationals, including five women, involved in online scams, officials announced on October 17, 2025. The deportees were sent back to South Korea to facilitate further legal action by their home government.
The operation was conducted by the General Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior, following investigations that linked the individuals to cybercrime activities. The deportations are part of Cambodia's ongoing efforts to combat online scams and uphold strict legal and procedural standards, officials stated.
The Secretariat of the Committee for Combating Online Scams, also known as Online Scams, emphasized that returning foreign nationals involved in cybercrime aligns with Cambodia’s legal framework and mechanisms established by the Royal Government. The government has previously deported a total of 180 Koreans involved in similar offenses, with ongoing cooperation sought from South Korean authorities to address the criminal networks behind these scams.
“The cooperation of South Korean authorities is essential for further investigations into the network of organizations and sources behind this cybercrime,” said the Online Scams Secretariat. Based on evidence seized during law enforcement operations across Cambodia’s provincial capitals, authorities are continuing in-depth research to dismantle the criminal infrastructure.
Over the past four months, provincial authorities, under guidance from the Online Scams Secretariat, conducted inspections at 92 locations across 18 provincial capitals, arresting approximately 3,455 suspects of 20 nationalities. The operations led to the prosecution of 10 major cases involving online fraud in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Sihanoukville, and Kampot provinces, resulting in 75 suspects and accomplices, including five women, being brought before courts.
Since the campaign’s launch in July 2025, Cambodia has also deported 2,825 foreigners—including 476 women—and rescued victims from trafficking networks, dismantling criminal organizations involved in cyber and human trafficking.
Prime Minister Hun Manet launched a comprehensive campaign on July 14, 2025, to combat digital fraud. The initiative mandates strict enforcement by provincial authorities, police, and relevant agencies, with penalties including evaluations for appointments, transfers, or dismissals for non-compliance. The government has also vowed to pursue the harshest legal measures against individuals and organizations involved in technology-enabled fraud, reflecting Cambodia’s firm stance against cybercrime and its efforts to transform the country into a safer digital environment.
