Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith has reaffirmed Cambodia’s determination to eradicate online scam operations and prevent criminal networks from re-establishing themselves in the country, citing significant progress achieved through sustained nationwide crackdowns over the past year.
Responding to media questions over whether Al Jazeera’s recent report on the Long Bay case in Koh Kong province could affect Cambodia’s international image and its efforts to combat online scams, Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister in Charge of Special Missions and Permanent Vice-Chairman and Head of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, stressed that Cambodia has never denied the existence of such crimes within its territory.
Instead, he emphasised that the government has demonstrated its commitment through concrete law enforcement actions and remains determined to eliminate online scam operations.
“Cambodia has never denied the existence of online scams. What matters is that Cambodia is a country actively taking concrete action to combat these crimes and has never backed down,” he said.
He added that the Royal Government has been implementing legal measures with the highest level of responsibility to eradicate online scams and hold those involved accountable.
According to the Senior Minister, the successive achievements recorded over the past year have provided further momentum for ministries, institutions and authorities across the capital and provinces to intensify their efforts to eliminate online scam operations.
He stressed that these results have reinforced the government’s determination not only to dismantle existing criminal networks but also to ensure that such activities never return.
Sinarith said the government has taken firm and responsible measures to dismantle and completely eliminate facilities and operational centres used by online scam syndicates.
Meanwhile, competent authorities are continuing active investigations to identify, locate and arrest criminal masterminds and all individuals involved in these operations, ensuring that they face legal consequences without exception.
Addressing the Al Jazeera video concerning Long Bay in Koh Kong province, the Senior Minister clarified that the activities depicted in the report had occurred before Cambodian authorities launched their large-scale crackdown.
He argued that rather than undermining Cambodia’s efforts, the footage demonstrated the scale of the criminal activities that authorities have since moved to dismantle.
According to Sinarith, the report therefore reflects the progress Cambodia has achieved in suppressing online scam networks and clearing criminal groups from the locations featured in the investigation.
Looking ahead, he reaffirmed that Cambodia would further strengthen and expand cooperation with foreign governments and international organisations to address the transnational nature of technology-related crimes.
He emphasised that closer international collaboration would be essential to preventing criminal syndicates from relocating, regrouping or re-establishing their operations within Cambodian territory.
The Senior Minister reiterated that Cambodia remains firmly committed to sustaining its crackdown and ensuring that online scam networks are not allowed to regain a foothold in the Kingdom.
