"Suspected Scam Workers Flee Sihanoukville Sites, Police Offer Few Answers", 16 January 2026

Large numbers of people were seen fleeing suspected scam compounds in Sihanoukville and other provinces …, according to videos circulating on social media and crime watchdog channels.

The apparent exodus, involving people believed to be among the roughly 100,000 foreign nationals the United Nations says are forced to work in scam centers across Cambodia, followed Prime Minister Hun Manet’s call to step up the fight against “tech-savvy crime” and the arrest of Chen Zhi, the alleged head of a vast scam network operating under the Prince Group conglomerate.

Another politically connected tycoon and alleged scam operator, Li Kuong, was also arrested and charged … with fraud, money laundering and human trafficking.

In many of the videos, geolocated by transnational crime monitoring group CyberScam Monitor, large groups carrying luggage were seen leaving casinos and compounds it has identified as hosting scam operations.

The sites include Royal Yongli, Lixin Harbor City and GTI Casino in Sihanoukville, long known as a hub of the industry, where the departures appeared to be concentrated.

Similar movements were reported at suspected scam centers in Kampot, Kandal, Battambang and Bavet City.

… Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Sar Ratha confirmed that foreign workers were leaving several casinos and nearby compounds but declined to say whether the movements were linked to online scam operations.

“We cannot say it is related to online scams because we have not investigated yet. This information has not been confirmed, as there is no government mechanism,” he said, adding that he did not know where the groups were going or whether they would be allowed to return…