Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated that Cambodia is not just cracking down on online scamming crimes but is moving to completely “clean them out”. He noted that online scams, which he referred to as part of the “black economy”, do not contribute to national revenue.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 annual review and 2026 work direction meeting of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), Manet stated that cleaning up these crimes is essential to restoring Cambodia’s reputation, which has been tarnished by online scams. He added that this crackdown requires cooperation and is not a matter of “dropping bombs”.
“The word ‘crackdown’ implies suppression, but here, we are cracking down and sweeping them clean so that our country is no longer stained by online scams that affect our socio-economic development. As for the results, citizens may remain sceptical — I do not blame you — you can think what you will, but when there are concrete results, we will show them immediately,” he said.
Manet explained that the government is currently drafting laws against online scams with broad jurisdiction. Under these laws, even those who rent houses to perpetrators will be held responsible; they will not be able to simply claim, “I didn’t know”.
He categorised online scams and related activities as the “black economy”. Those who benefit indirectly, such as drivers or landlords, were likened to a “grey economy”. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s general economy that is unrelated to scams, such as tourism, was described as the “white economy”.
Manet firmly rejected allegations that the black economy, or online scams, represent 60 per cent of Cambodia’s total economy, calling such claims untrue.
“Income from the black economy does not enter Cambodia’s [official] economy. It might go into house rentals, land purchases or some drivers’ salaries, but it does not contribute as a share of Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—I want to be clear on that,” he said.
He emphasised that Cambodia’s national revenue is derived from the “white economy”, such as trade and various investments.
He concluded that Cambodia will follow the vision of “acting to clean up and promote our national honour on the international stage” under the spirit of “doing it for the Khmer people”.
