On the morning of 8 October 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Dr Sar Sokha chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Interior to exchange experience in combating online fraud and money laundering. He said Cambodia had achieved significant results against transnational cybercrime and would continue intensifying its efforts.
Sar Sokha said online fraud was changing: operations once concentrated in large compounds were shifting to smaller, more concealed premises such as villas, shophouses and apartments, making detection harder. Cambodia’s short-term enforcement priorities would therefore focus on dismantling these dispersed sites rather than comprehensively inspecting large compounds.
He said Cambodia had deported more than 15,000 foreigners involved in cybercrime since the start of the National Assembly’s seventh mandate. Under the sixth government, led by former prime minister Hun Sen and former interior minister Sar Kheng, about 21,000 people linked to scams were repatriated. The report put the combined total expelled across the two administrations at more than 36,000 suspects, presenting it as evidence of Cambodia’s determination and enforcement efforts against transnational crime.
The meeting took place at the Interior Ministry’s secretariat. Participants included secretaries and undersecretaries of state, the National Police commissioner-general and deputies, provincial and municipal police chiefs, police-academy leaders and specialist officials. Discussions covered tackling scams, tracking funds and international law-enforcement cooperation.
Sar Sokha stressed that fighting online fraud was not Cambodia’s responsibility alone. Cybercrime had become a global threat requiring mutual understanding and close cooperation among law-enforcement agencies to build a cross-border defence against scams.
The report cited outside analysis suggesting that the campaign aimed to strengthen Cambodia’s image of international cooperation while targeting smaller operations through more precise enforcement, seeking a balance between social stability and its international reputation.
Compiled by this outlet
