Police detained 44 people at a 16-story building in Sihanoukville on October 3 for their involvement in an online scam operation, according to the National Police. The raid took place at the structure known as the "Boat Building" in Village 4, Commune 4, Sihanoukville1.
Those held were Chinese, Taiwanese and Cambodian nationals, including six women1. Inside the building, which contained 320 rooms, police found 40 desktop computers, 10 laptops and 26 mobile phones1. The facility has been sealed, pending legal action1.
The Sihanoukville case was reported alongside a larger raid the following day. On October 4, police detained 587 suspects at a 30-story building in Poipet town's Samaki Meanchey village, O'Chrov commune, in Banteay Meanchey province1. Of those detainees, 518 were Indonesian nationals, including 76 women; 18 were Thai, including six women; and 51 were Cambodian, including 21 women1. A Thai national is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, a senior police official said1. Authorities confiscated large quantities of equipment, with legal procedures underway and interrogation of the suspects ongoing1.
Ministry of Interior spokesperson Touch Sokhak said the Poipet case was not linked to online scam activities and should not be viewed as an indicator that large-scale scam centers are still present in the Kingdom1.
"He explained that the government is taking steps to eradicate all online betting."
The Phnom Penh Post published an editor's note stating that an earlier version of its article incorrectly described the Poipet location as housing an online scam operation, rather than illegal gambling1.
| Raid | Date | Location | Detained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Building | October 3 | Village 4, Commune 4, Sihanoukville | 44 (Chinese, Taiwanese, Cambodian; six women) |
| Poipet building | October 4 | Samaki Meanchey village, O'Chrov commune, Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey | 587 (518 Indonesian, 18 Thai, 51 Cambodian) |
What it means for players
The two raids show that Cambodian authorities are acting against unlicensed online operations, and that buildings used for such activity can be sealed and their occupants detained. For anyone in Cambodia, including locals, expats and visitors, the practical point is that the venues named here were not licensed gambling floors open to the public; they were targets of enforcement. Details of what the detainees are accused of, and how the cases will proceed, have not been reported beyond the statements above.
People who gamble online in the region should note that the Ministry of Interior describes the Poipet case as illegal gambling rather than a scam center, while the Sihanoukville case is described as an online scam operation. The distinction matters because the two carry different official descriptions, and the Post corrected its own earlier reporting on the Poipet site. General guidance on identifying fraudulent sites and rigged games, and on where to report them, is set out in our guide to gambling scams and safety in Asia. For the legal position on land-based and online play in the country, see Can I gamble in Cambodia?.
What happens next
Both facilities have been sealed pending legal action1. Interrogation of the suspects in the Poipet case is ongoing, and legal procedures are underway there1. No court dates, charges or sentencing details have been reported for either case.
Sources2 sources
- All bets are off: Poipet gambling raid nets 500+ suspects - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
- All bets are off: Poipet gambling raid nets 500+ suspects - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
