(Phnom Penh): Cambodia deported more than 16,000 foreign nationals linked to online scam operations during the first half of 2026 as authorities intensified a nationwide crackdown on cybercrime, a senior immigration official said.

Police Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, Director General of the General Department of Immigration, said enforcement operations have accelerated since January. He added that all deported individuals have been permanently barred from re-entering Cambodia.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has been carrying out a nationwide campaign against online scam syndicates for more than a year, backed by strengthened enforcement measures, institutional mechanisms, and legal reforms.
 
As part of these efforts, Cambodia has drafted the Law on Combating Technology-Based Fraud, which aims to impose tougher criminal penalties for technology-enabled crimes and strengthen the country's legal framework against cyber fraud.
 
The proposed legislation is designed to ensure the effective prosecution of criminal networks, including masterminds, accomplices, and other individuals involved in online scam operations, while reinforcing preventive measures to stop such crimes from re-emerging in Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS