Prey Veng provincial police, working with relevant authorities, have arrested 64 people for their roles in illegal money lending operations — with interest rates reportedly as high as 85% — following a two-week investigation.
The provincial police announced on October 6 that, in cooperation with the Anti-Terrorism Department of the National Police, they had busted illegal money-lending operations charging excessive interest across the province. In the process, 64 suspects (including 24 women) were arrested, and a large quantity of evidence was seized.
The large-scale operation was launched on the orders of National Police Chief General Sar Thet. Police
conducted investigations across several districts in Prey Veng over two weeks. Ultimately, they identified five lending networks and 64 suspects.
“All five of these lending operations were illegal. Four of them had no legal licenses whatsoever, while one group held a pawnshop license, not a lending license. All five charged interest far above legal limits, typically disguising their rates as 10–15% per month. In reality, investigations revealed actual rates between 80% and 85%,” it stated.
The suspects and the evidence were taken to the provincial police headquarters for questioning and legal processing. The ringleaders of the five groups have now been formally charged and sent to the Prey Veng Provincial Court for prosecution. Lower-level loan agents have been educated and made to sign good behaviour bonds, and are assisting police to uncover additional illegal lending schemes.
After the completion of the crackdown, Sar Thet and Prey Veng governor Suon Somalin ordered the provincial police to hold an emergency meeting and expand investigations, with the goal of eliminating all high-interest illegal lending networks across all the 13 districts and 116 communes of the province.
They instructed local police officers to raise public awareness about the dangers of high-interest illegal loans.
The provincial police issued a public warning urging citizens to stop taking illegal loans with excessive interest, appealing to anyone involved to immediately cease such activities.
Authorities stressed that if any further cases are discovered, no leniency will be offered to offenders.
Finally, the provincial police issued a strict directive to officers in all 116 communes to report any ongoing illegal money-lending operations. Anyone continuing to lend illegally or threaten borrowers will be treated as criminal offenders and prosecuted promptly, as the authorities continue to protect the public from exploitation.
