PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Authorities in Phnom Penh have arrested 49 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on an alleged online scam operation uncovered at a city hotel, in what officials say is part of a broader effort to dismantle transnational cybercrime networks.
The suspects were apprehended during a Sunday afternoon raid at the Jinbian Mendu Hotel in Sen Sok district, conducted by a joint security team under the Phnom Penh Administrative Unified Command.
The operation was ordered by Governor Khuong Sreng and led by Police Commissioner Chuon Narin, with legal oversight from Deputy Prosecutor Chhay Hong of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Police said the suspects—comprising Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Myanmar, and Cambodian nationals—were found operating across multiple floors of the hotel. Seven were arrested on the ground floor, 26 on the second and third floors, and 16 on the rooftop.
During the raid, authorities seized 92 computers, 687 mobile phones, and a cache of Malaysian SIM cards, pointing to a sophisticated and well-equipped operation.
Preliminary investigations indicate the group was running fraudulent schemes disguised as investment opportunities, targeting victims primarily in Malaysia and other countries. Officials said the suspects had recently relocated from Tbong Khmum province, suggesting attempts to evade detection.
“The suspects used Cambodia as a base to carry out fraudulent activities under the guise of fake investments,” police said, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify key organisers and financiers behind the network.
The arrested individuals and seized equipment have been handed over to the Phnom Penh Police Department for further processing and prosecution in accordance with Cambodian law.
Authorities also issued a warning to property owners, urging them to exercise greater vigilance when leasing premises to foreigners or individuals suspected of involvement in technology-related crimes.
The Phnom Penh operation is one of the latest in a series of crackdowns aimed at dismantling scam centres and restoring confidence in the country’s regulatory and security environment.
