Cambodian authorities say they have detained 30 Vietnamese nationals accused of running online scam operations from two locations in Bavet, a border town in Svay Rieng province.
According to the Secretariat of the Committee for Countering Technology Crime, the arrests were made during coordinated raids on a residential compound known as Li Zhou and two nearby casinos. Officers seized large amounts of equipment that investigators believe was used to target victims. The items include 115 desktop computers, two laptops, 10 PC towers, seven mobile phones, 15 monitors, 16 call center telephones, and six passports.
Officials say 21 of the suspects were already known to authorities for previous offenses. Investigators believe the group used staged photos and fabricated investment schemes to persuade victims to transfer money. Police say the suspects also tricked people into installing software that allowed them to take control of personal data and bank accounts.
Specialist teams are now working with relevant agencies to expand the investigation and identify ringleaders. Police have temporarily shut down the locations while the suspects and evidence have been handed over to provincial authorities for legal processing.
The committee’s latest report shows that in the past four months, Cambodian authorities have detained more than 3,400 people linked to online fraud. Seventy-five alleged coordinators and their associates have been sent to court.
The crackdown comes as the United States increases pressure on Cambodia over transnational cybercrime. On October 13, 2025, the US House of Representatives introduced Bill H.R. 5490, which proposes placing Cambodia on a blacklist and recommending sanctions on at least 43 Cambodian officials and business figures. The list includes Dy Vichea, Net Savoeun, Kuoch Chamroeun, and Sar Sokha, along with more than 30 others, many of whom US lawmakers accuse of protecting or benefiting from criminal networks.
Authorities say investigations into the latest operation in Bavet are continuing.
