On January 23, Cambodia expelled and returned 209 foreigners to their countries of origin for handling under those countries' laws, including 73 South Korean and 136 Myanmar citizens. Immigration authorities said this was part of continuing anti-online-scam enforcement and that the people involved would be treated according to their individual cases.
South Korean media said the 73 Koreans had been arrested in Cambodia by a joint Korean–Cambodian investigation team on suspicion of organised cross-border online fraud involving 869 South Korean victims and 48.6 billion won (approximately US$33.1 million). Cambodian authorities said the returnees included both suspects allegedly directly involved in fraud and victims discovered during enforcement operations.
Cambodian officials reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on online scams and cross-border crime. Reported figures showed 1,620 foreigners from 21 countries returned from January 1 to 22, 2026. During seven months of nationwide anti-scam operations, 5,106 suspects were detained and 4,534 returned; judicial authorities had concluded 37 major cases and sentenced 172 people.
Compiled reporting by this station.
