Hun Manet: Online scam networks will not be allowed to harm Cambodia’s progress and people

The International Conference on Combating Online Scams opened in Phnom Penh on the morning of September 23, 2026, presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Held on September 23–24 under the theme “Together towards Breaking the Chains and Ending Online Scams”, the conference focuses on strengthening international cooperation to address the spread of online scams, an increasingly complex cross-border problem.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said Cambodia would not allow online scam criminal networks to undermine the country’s progress or the livelihoods of its more than 17 million people.
He reiterated that the online scam industry did not originate in Cambodia and is not confined to Cambodia. The country’s initial connection to the problem was linked to the growth of online gambling and casino-related businesses.
Addressing international participants at the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS), the Prime Minister made clear that Cambodia would not become a safe haven for online scams. He described this cross-border crime as a new phenomenon following COVID-19, wholly at odds with Cambodia’s culture, values and national identity.
The Prime Minister said Cambodia takes full responsibility for ensuring peace along its borders, enforcing its laws and restoring the integrity of its national jurisdiction. This responsibility, he said, must be demonstrated through firm domestic measures without leniency.
 
The conference brought together ministerial-level delegations from 16 countries and technical officials from a further 14 countries, along with representatives of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Participants included Cambodia, China, the United States, with some participation by the FBI, the United Kingdom and countries across Asia. By Sopheak.