Cambodian authorities have deported 1,059 foreign nationals of various nationalities to their home countries after finding they were living or working illegally in the country, according to the General Department of Immigration.
The department said the deportations took place over five days, from January 29 to February 2, following investigations into illegal border crossings, unauthorised employment, and the use of fake QR codes.
Officials said 419 foreign nationals were removed after being linked to illegal entry, unlawful stay, and work, as well as the use of forged QR codes. They came from seven countries: China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Liberia, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
In a separate operation on February 1, immigration officers deported 175 Vietnamese nationals through the Bavet international border checkpoint in Svay Rieng province. Authorities said they were connected to illegal residence and online scam operations.
The department also reported that on January 31, a further 406 foreign nationals were deported for illegal entry. They represented nine nationalities, including China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nigeria, South Korea, India, Thailand, and Sierra Leone. Among them, 140 Chinese nationals were found not only to have entered and worked illegally but also to have used fake QR codes.
The General Department of Immigration said the recent wave of deportations reflects intensified government efforts to crack down on online scams. Officials say both perpetrators and victims are often foreign nationals who enter Cambodia unlawfully.
The campaign against online scams has been declared a top priority by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Speaking on January 31 during a large-scale raid on an online scam site in Bavet, Interior Minister Sar Sokha warned that any Ministry of Interior official found to be negligent or complicit in technology-related fraud would face legal consequences, including dismissal from their post and expulsion from the civil service. The remarks were made in reference to the Ministry of Interior.
China’s ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wenbin, said in a Facebook post that Beijing supports Cambodia’s efforts and law enforcement actions against online scams, adding that he believes the cooperation will continue to make steady progress.
According to an immigration report, Cambodia deported 13,557 foreign nationals of 66 nationalities in 2025 after determining they had violated Cambodian law. That figure represents an increase of 7,705 people, or 56.83 percent, compared with the same period in 2024.
