On July 13, the Banteay Meanchey provincial administration in Cambodia organised a joint operation by police and other law-enforcement agencies in Poipet. Raids on five premises suspected of online fraud and unlawful residency by foreigners found nearly 40 foreign nationals. Ten Chinese nationals were taken for further investigation.
Officers first inspected a four-storey building in Poipet, where they found nine foreign nationals from five countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya. Police seized 33 mobile phones, laptops, tablets, walkie-talkies and other electronic equipment. They also found imitation Chinese police uniform epaulettes, police badges, designs of China’s national emblem and related items bearing Chinese markings. The items have been seized as evidence for the investigation.
Police said the building owner reported suspected unusual activities by tenants to the authorities and actively cooperated with the inspection.
During the investigation, surveillance footage showed a white Toyota Land Cruiser repeatedly entering and leaving the building. Checks found that the vehicle was registered to a Cambodian man, who said it had been subleased to a Chinese man.
With the vehicle owner’s assistance, police followed the lead to a residential compound in Poipet. As officers arrived, a Chinese man left on a motorised three-wheeler, while three other Chinese nationals remained for questioning. Police then searched nearby homes and found another seven Chinese nationals suspected of links to the case.
By the end of the operation, police had transferred ten Chinese nationals to the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police Commissariat for further investigation. Other foreign nationals found at the scene were also taken in. Police will check their identities, residency status and possible involvement in online fraud or other offences.
Police are pursuing the Chinese man who left the scene. The investigation is continuing.
