Banteay Meanchey Authorities Arrest Building Owner Suspected of Providing Premises for Online Scams

Joint forces raided two large online scam operations in Kbal Spean 1 Village, O Chrov Commune, Poipet City, on August 21, 2026.
Authorities detained a man named Ou Sophal, who owns both buildings, on suspicion of providing premises to support a scam group. The first building has five floors and 172 rooms; the second has two floors and 59 rooms.
More than 220 people were found, including 200 foreigners of seven nationalities: 174 Thai, 10 Bangladeshi, eight Indonesian, three Filipino, two Chinese, two Indian and one Malaysian, along with 23 Cambodian nationals.
The suspects were sent to Kang Va Centre and the provincial police commissariat. Evidence was seized, and both buildings were temporarily closed pending legal proceedings.
According to the special commission, Cambodia cracked down on 663 online scam locations from July 2025 to August 2026, including closing and taking control of 86 scam compounds. More than US$300 million in bank accounts and substantial other assets were also frozen.
By: Pai Sokhim.