| 
Cambodia has established a new national cybercrime task force to combat illegal gambling, online scams, and financial fraud, which officials say have severely damaged the country’s international reputation. The initiative, announced during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, will be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and include multiple ministries, law enforcement agencies, and regulatory bodies to enhance coordination against cross-border cybercrime.
Authorities said the task force will focus on dismantling criminal networks, identifying masterminds, and providing support to victims—many of whom were trafficked from neighbouring countries through deceptive job offers. The government will now have expanded powers to suspend websites, revoke business licences, and freeze bank accounts tied to online gambling and scam activities.
Officials have also pledged to upgrade Cambodia’s digital surveillance systems and forensic investigation tools to track increasingly sophisticated regional cybercriminals. Cooperation with South Korea, China, and ASEAN partners will be intensified, with a focus on intelligence sharing and the repatriation of victims trapped in scam compounds.
Cambodia prohibits its citizens from gambling domestically, though foreigners are permitted to play in designated border casinos. Over the past two years, authorities claim to have shut down more than 1,000 gambling-related websites and frozen numerous bank accounts linked to cyber-fraud operations, calling the move a “firm commitment to safeguarding digital integrity.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that collaboration with foreign embassies has led to several successful rescue operations of trafficked victims.
The crackdown comes amid mounting international pressure. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have issued sanctions against the Cambodia-based conglomerate Prince Holding Group, accusing it of enabling large-scale criminal operations under the guise of legitimate investment.
US prosecutors recently unsealed an indictment in Brooklyn against the group’s founder, 37-year-old Chen Zhi, also known as Vincent, alleging wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. According to US officials, Chen orchestrated an extensive cyber-fraud enterprise that used trafficked workers to conduct so-called “pig-butchering” scams—schemes that trick investors into fake cryptocurrency platforms. If convicted, Chen could face decades in prison, though he remains at large.
The US Treasury designated 146 individuals linked to Southeast Asian scam networks as part of a transnational criminal organization last month. The UK government also moved to freeze 19 London properties, worth over €115 million, tied to illicit profits from online gambling and scam operations.
Cambodia’s credibility has suffered as a result of these developments. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified the country as a significant hub for organised scam activities. At the same time, human rights groups have reported forced labour and torture within compounds located in Sihanoukville and along border casino zones. Phnom Penh has denied these allegations, insisting it remains committed to eradicating illegal online gambling and associated crimes.
Neighbouring Thailand has also voiced concern that Cambodia’s border casino hubs feed into regional betting markets. Analysts argue that corruption, inadequate oversight, and political patronage have enabled criminal enterprises to thrive, undermining investor confidence and regional stability.
