Preah Sihanouk Governor Mang Sineth told a meeting reviewing progress against online scams on the morning of May 20 that the province planned to host an international press conference on the crackdown in August 2026, with about 10 countries expected to take part.
He called on the relevant authorities and law-enforcement bodies to work together, strictly implement Sub-Decree No. 03 and continue action against online scams in preparation for the conference.
According to the report presented by Deputy Governor មីន កុម្ភៈ and an Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) report dated May 20, inspections from January 21 to May 18, 2026 covered 94 casino locations comprising 318 buildings. Authorities sealed 58 locations comprising 223 buildings and disconnected water, electricity and internet services. Sixteen locations were found to be linked to online scams, involving 2,074 people, including 217 women, of 19 nationalities. The number of sealed locations should not be treated as the number of locations all found to be involved in scams.
The deputy governor also reported inspections of 1,023 communal residential locations. Violations were found at 78 locations: 48 involving online scams and 30 involving foreigners staying illegally. These involved 1,226 people, including 166 women, of 20 nationalities, and fines were imposed on property owners. The report put the combined total at 3,300 people, including 383 women, of 25 nationalities, and said computers, phones, SIM cards and drugs were seized.
According to a May 10 statement by the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Police cited in the original report, officers had carried out an operation at a casino named “ជីន យូ មេន តាំង” in Sihanoukville after receiving information about suspected online scams and hundreds of foreigners staying illegally. Some foreigners attempted to flee during the operation. Police subsequently brought the scene under control and detained hundreds of foreigners, along with relevant items.
For the nationwide figures, AKP reported on April 24, 2026, citing the Office of the Spokesperson of the Royal Government, that authorities had tackled more than 250 online-scam cases and closed 91 casino locations between July 2025 and mid-April 2026. Separately, procedures were carried out to deport 13,039 foreign nationals linked to online scams from early 2025 to April 19, 2026. The statement also recorded 241,888 voluntary departures from Cambodia between mid-January and April 19, 2026. The voluntary-departure and deportation figures cover different periods; voluntary departure does not itself establish that a person committed a crime.
Reporting: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
Photography: Keo Dara
