Cambodian authorities have apprehended three Malaysian nationals during a major raid targeting online scam syndicates in the capital city of Phnom Penh. The operation, conducted on Sunday, resulted in the detention of 49 individuals suspected of operating fraudulent investment schemes. According to reports from the state media agency Agence Kampuchea Presse, the group had been using Cambodia as a strategic base to defraud victims in Malaysia and several other countries globally.
The joint task force, operating under the Phnom Penh Unified Command Committee, executed the raid on Sunday afternoon at a hotel located in the Khan Sen Sok district. Officials confirmed that the group of detainees comprised 43 Chinese nationals, three Malaysians, and three women from Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia, respectively. This latest enforcement action is part of an intensifying nationwide campaign to eliminate illegal digital fraud hubs and gambling centres across the country.
During the high-stakes operation, security forces seized a significant cache of electronic equipment used to facilitate the scams. The confiscated items included 60 computers, 31 CPUs, one laptop, and 687 mobile phones. Notably, authorities also recovered 46 Malaysian SIM cards, further indicating the syndicate’s specific focus on targeting Malaysian citizens. The raid is part of “Operation XXL,” a primary government initiative aimed at eradicating organized cybercrime by April.
The surge in regional cyber-syndicates has drawn international concern, with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) previously warning that online fraud has reached alarming levels in Southeast Asia. International operations divisions have noted that these activities are largely driven by highly organized international syndicates. The Cambodian Ministry of Interior reported in February that over 30,000 foreign nationals involved in cyber-criminal activities have been deported since June last year, while another 200,000 have departed the country voluntarily.
The Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh remains active in addressing the plight of citizens caught in these networks, having recently repatriated seven Malaysians believed to be victims of similar online syndicates. While some Malaysians are lured into these operations under the guise of legitimate job offers, others are found to be active participants in the illegal schemes. As “Operation XXL” continues, regional authorities are expected to maintain strict surveillance on transit hubs and hospitality sectors to prevent the resurgence of these digital fraud bases.
