Cambodia's nationwide anti-fraud storm officially kicked off. From June 27, 2025, to July 16, within just 20 days, law enforcement raided 20 scam dens and arrested 1,362 suspects. The scale and efficiency of the operation have been described as "Cambodia's first real anti-fraud surgery."
Unlike previous symbolic enforcement, this round of action was personally ordered by Prime Minister Hun Manet, who explicitly demanded a thorough purge of the nation's hidden scam strongholds. The government then held a closed-door meeting to deploy specific strategies for combating online fraud. Police forces in multiple locations mobilized simultaneously, focusing on major fraud-affected areas such as Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Kandal.
According to reports from the United Nations and Interpol, there are suspected to be over 50 cyber fraud parks within Cambodia, drawing international attention. Although initially defensive, Cambodia has for the first time acknowledged the severity of the issue and called for international cooperation, marking a clear shift in attitude. This strong crackdown is also seen as a response to international pressure, especially from US tariff pressures.
The sweep operation seized a large amount of electronic equipment, drugs, firearms, and ammunition. The raided parks have been completely cut off from water and electricity and are under 24-hour surveillance. Eleven individuals have already been transferred to court for trial, and foreign suspects are being added to the deportation list.
This operation is also seen as a major reshuffle of the gray market structure, not just arresting individuals but reshaping order. However, industry insiders point out that completely eradicating cyber fraud still faces two major challenges: one is Cambodia's lack of alternative industries to cyber fraud; the other is that large enterprises deeply embedded in the gray market have a very high failure rate when attempting to transform.
There are concerns that without sustained support following the crackdown, it might only be a short-lived spectacle. After all, the official stance still denies that "Cambodia is a kingdom of cyber fraud." How the number of raids will be controlled in the future and how the gray market giants will respond remain unknown.
The crackdown is not just an enforcement action but also a game about political attitudes, industry cleansing, and regional competition. In this operation, which seems "not just for show," who is manipulating, who is the scapegoat, and who can emerge unscathed, is just the beginning. The authorities have stated that this is just "phase one," with further in-depth cross-checks to come, vowing not to stop until the cleanup is complete.
