Cambodia's National Police raided two online scam centers in O'Chrov commune, Poipet city, on Wednesday, arresting over 300 people, according to a Khmer Times report published on April 23, 20261. Police fired several rounds of ammunition during the operation in Banteay Meanchey province to prevent criminals from fleeing1.
The operation was carried out under the orders of General Sar Thet, Commissioner-General of the National Police, and was led by Lieutenant General Hem Sovath, Deputy Commissioner-General of the National Police1. It took place under the coordination of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court prosecutor's four deputies1.
"Police were forced to fire several rounds of ammunition to prevent criminals from fleeing during anti-scam raids in Banteay Meanchey province on Wednesday."
The report did not state the nationalities of those arrested, the exact number taken into custody beyond "over 300," or whether any charges had been filed1. It also did not say what the two scam centers were operating as, or whether either was connected to a casino or licensed gambling venue1. Those details have not been reported.
The raid follows other recent enforcement actions in Cambodia. On April 3, 2026, 107 people were arrested in a casino raid, and on April 11, 2026, Cambodia deported 339 Chinese nationals, according to related reports listed alongside the Poipet story1. On March 25, 2026, 15 people were arrested in scam center raids in Phnom Penh1. In December 2025, 30 Koreans were rescued from a Cambodian casino1.
Poipet sits on the border with Thailand and is one of the border towns long associated with scam compounds, alongside sites in Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines. Cambodia's gambling rules separate licensed casino operations from the unlicensed online operations that these raids target.
What it means for players
The raid took place in a border town where casino and online operations sit close together, and it involved shots being fired, which is unusual in the reporting of these operations1. For anyone in Poipet, the practical effect is a heavier police presence in O'Chrov commune and possible disruption around the raided sites.
For players, the arrests concern people working in or running unlicensed online operations, not licensed gambling floors, based on what the report describes1. The report does not say that any casino or licensed venue was involved, and it does not identify the businesses by name1.
Anyone dealing with online betting sites or agents that route through border towns should treat unsourced claims about operators, staff or payouts with caution. General guidance on gambling scams and safety covers fake sites, rigged games and how to report problems.
What happens next
The report gives no date for court appearances, no information on charges and no statement on what will happen to the more than 300 people arrested1. It also does not say whether the two scam centers will be shut permanently or whether further raids in Poipet are planned1. None of those next steps have been reported.
Sources1 sources
- Shots fired as 300 arrested in Poipet city scam raids, khmertimeskh.com
