Cambodian authorities are expanding their investigation into the financial network of Prince Group, a Cambodia-based conglomerate that the United States alleges was a front for multi-billion-dollar online fraud and money laundering operations1. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who heads a government commission on combating fraud, said the investigation is widening as Cambodia gathers evidence against suspected masterminds of large cyberfraud operations1.
Chhay told Reuters on the sidelines of a global anti-scam conference in Phnom Penh on Sept 24 that legal action against those responsible requires time and evidence1.
"whether it involves the mastermind, the co-conspirator, owner, enabler or protector, it requires time and also it requires evidence"
He said information supplied by international partners had enabled action against some suspects, and that premature disclosure of investigations could cause suspects to flee1. Cambodia this week hosted representatives of more than a dozen countries, including the US and China, at the conference1.
Prince Group's Chinese-born founder, Chen Zhi, was arrested and deported to China from Cambodia earlier in 20261. Reporters toured two facilities outside Phnom Penh that Cambodian authorities said were scam centers belonging to Prince Group, described as vast complexes that officials said housed thousands of workers; one contained a fake Singaporean police station allegedly used for impersonation fraud1. Lawyers for Prince Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment1.
Chhay declared in August that Cambodia had eradicated large-scale scam compounds since it began a year-long crackdown, though it has not provided a full list of the sites it has raided1. Analysts have been skeptical, saying the operation has left high-level figures and protectors of the industry unscathed1. John Wojcik, a senior analyst at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, said many large compounds remain active even as other operators disperse into smaller, decentralized sites, and that the technology, payment rails, money-laundering networks and facilitators behind the industry continue to operate at scale1. The US said scam compounds in the region stole US$10 billion (S$12.79 billion) from Americans alone in 20241.
What it means for players
The investigation concerns alleged fraud and money-laundering infrastructure rather than licensed gambling, and no source states that any licensed casino or betting operator in Cambodia is a target. For people who gamble in Cambodia, the practical relevance is the wider scam economy that surrounds unlicensed online operations: the US allegation concerns online fraud operations, and one facility authorities attributed to Prince Group included a fake Singaporean police station used for impersonation fraud1. Cambodia's own account is that large-scale scam compounds have been eradicated, while analysts say many large compounds remain active and operators have dispersed into smaller sites1. Visitors and residents who encounter online gambling or investment offers linked to such operations have no verified way to confirm who is behind them from the information published so far. Background on identifying fraudulent sites and reporting them is in our guide to gambling scams and safety in Asia, and the legal position for players is set out in Can I gamble in Cambodia?.
What happens next
Chhay said authorities are expanding the Prince Group financial network investigation, and that cases against masterminds, co-conspirators, owners, enablers and protectors require time and evidence1. He said premature disclosure could cause suspects to flee, and that cooperation with international partners had already enabled action against some suspects1. No timeline for charges or further arrests has been reported1.
