Cambodia closes more than 700 cyberscam centres

Cambodia's government said Friday it had closed more than 700 online scam centres over the past year, arresting nearly 30,000 suspects including senior officials and law enforcement officers.

The government said authorities had cleared more than 700 compounds and deported 58,266 foreign nationals during the crackdown. It said more than 3,400 suspects from 29 nationalities were in custody awaiting trial, including citizens of China, Vietnam, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.

Cambodia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running fake romance and cryptocurrency investment schemes that defraud internet users around the world. Some scammers work willingly, while others are trafficked.

The government said large-scale sites had been cleared but criminal groups had shifted to smaller, decentralised operations hidden in guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles and coffee shops.

Cambodia has faced pressure from countries including the United States and China to act against the industry. In January, it extradited alleged scam boss Chen Zhi, the Chinese-born chairman of Prince Holding Group, to China after he was sanctioned by the US and UK governments. In April, Cambodia extradited Li Xiong, the Chinese-born former chairman of Huione Group, to China; Beijing accuses him of playing a key role in a major transnational gambling and fraud syndicate.