Cambodia has arrested more than 1,000 individuals this week in a sweeping crackdown on cybercrime operations.
The large-scale action followed an order from Prime Minister Hun Manet, who directed authorities to respond to growing threats posed by online scams in the country.
Officials say raids were carried out across at least five provinces between Monday and Wednesday, with suspects from multiple nationalities detained.
The arrests are part of a broader effort to improve public security and target organized online criminal activity.
Among those arrested were over 270 Indonesians, including 45 women, in the border town of Poipet—an area long linked to gambling and cyberscam networks.
In Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, police detained 200 Vietnamese, 27 Chinese, 75 Taiwanese, and 85 Cambodians. In other areas, suspects included citizens from Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Authorities also seized a large amount of electronic equipment, including computers and mobile phones.
Cybercrime has become a growing international concern, especially in Southeast Asia, where the United Nations estimates it generates billions of dollars annually for global criminal networks.
Human trafficking is frequently connected to these operations, with workers often tricked into taking jobs and later held against their will.
In June, Amnesty International released findings from an 18-month investigation that accused the Cambodian government of ignoring widespread abuses inside scamming compounds across the country.
These abuses allegedly include forced labor, trafficking, and physical abuse, often linked to foreign criminal organizations.
Cambodia’s enforcement efforts are unfolding amid rising tensions with neighboring Thailand.
The dispute began in May with a brief armed clash over a contested border area.
Since then, the conflict has escalated, leading to border closures and disrupted utilities. Cambodia has criticized Thailand’s moves as retaliatory and politically motivated.