PHNOM PENH – As digital technologies transform societies around the globe, Cambodia is facing mounting challenges in its battle against online fraud and human trafficking—crimes that exploit both technological complexity and vulnerable populations. Despite government crackdowns and international cooperation, experts acknowledge that gaps in Cambodia’s technological capacity continue to hinder progress.
Chou Bun Eng, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), acknowledged the Kingdom’s struggle, stating: “Cambodia lacks sufficient expertise in modern technologies and remains primarily a user, not a developer, of such systems.” Her comments were made during a press conference at the Ministry of Interior last week.
While Cambodia has enacted anti-trafficking legislation since 2008 and is a party to several international conventions, authorities say they are often outpaced by the rapidly evolving methods used by transnational criminals, particularly in cyberspace.
“The world today is moving toward an immoral mindset where people care only about their own interests,” Bun Eng said, linking the persistence of these crimes to global crises such as war, natural disasters and economic inequality that leave populations vulnerable to exploitation.
A Regional Crime With Global Roots
Cambodia’s officials stress that the country is largely a victim—not the epicenter—of these crimes. Criminal syndicates, mostly foreign-operated, have used Cambodian territory to establish operational bases that target victims across borders.
Sok Phal, chairman of the Ministry of Interior’s Commission for the Suppression of Cybercrime, pointed out that while international criticism has portrayed Cambodia as a hub for online scams, most operations are run by foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals.
“Online criminals are using Cambodia as a base to commit crimes and defraud people in other countries,” he stated, citing the 2019 closure of major illegal gambling networks as part of the government’s broader crackdown.
However, with outdated cybercrime laws—some dating back to 1994—the legal system remains ill-equipped to address the full scope of online threats. Revisions are reportedly in progress.
Enforcement Complications and Data Challenges
From August 2023 to the present, authorities received thousands of intervention requests involving nearly 10,000 foreigners from 35 countries. Yet, only 68 were confirmed as victims of crimes such as human trafficking, forced labor, or deprivation of liberty, according to Seang Thearith, deputy commissioner of the National Police.
Law enforcement officials arrested 129 suspects from five countries and shut down 24 suspected illegal operations, but investigations are often hampered by the clandestine nature of cyber-enabled crimes. Offenders commonly use fake identities, erase digital evidence quickly, and operate under layers of anonymity.
“We cannot simply target a location because foreigners are present,” Thearith explained, citing due process and international legal standards. “Legal interpretations vary between countries—what is a crime in Cambodia may not be considered one elsewhere.”
Border Control and Prevention Measures
To prevent trafficking before it happens, the General Department of Immigration (GDI) has stepped up border inspections and partnered with the Ministry of Labour to monitor foreign employment practices. GDI Director-General Sok Veasna stated that immigration officials now receive training on identifying trafficking, drug smuggling, and money laundering.
So far this year, 146 Cambodian women were repatriated from China in 63 cases, with more returns documented from Thailand and Vietnam. Authorities also intercepted 56 attempts to traffic 105 individuals—90 of them women—before they left the country.
Over the past several years, more than 20,000 foreigners have been deported from Cambodia for various criminal offenses.
Seeking Fair Narratives and Global Cooperation
Cambodian officials also voiced frustration over what they describe as unfair and outdated media portrayals that label Cambodia as a hub for online crime, leading to reputational damage and travel warnings that have harmed the tourism and investment sectors.
“Online fraudsters are not Cambodian,” Thearith asserted. “They do not live here permanently but come from other countries to exploit our system.”
Sok Phal warned that emerging threats such as AI-based fraud—using deepfakes and synthetic identities—will make criminal activity even more difficult to detect.
Bun Eng concluded by urging the international community to focus on joint solutions rather than blame.
“Is there any government that wants to keep crime within its borders?” she asked. “These crimes hurt the government and the people. They benefit only the criminals.”
Cambodia continues to collaborate with ASEAN neighbors, China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., Australia, and the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen both prevention and prosecution mechanisms.
