Siem Reap joint forces have detained 19 suspects, following a raid on a rented villa in Sala Kamreuk village and commune, Siem Reap town, on suspicion of online scamming.
After receiving tips that the house was being used for illegal activities, the authorities swept into the villa on December 1 and detained the suspects.
The group had only been residing in Siem Reap for approximately two weeks.
According to the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC), authorities found that they were preparing to carry out online scam activities disguised as customer relations to encourage investment in stocks, targeting victims overseas.
The 19 suspects include 16 Bangladeshi and 3 Nepalese nationals. Authorities are conducting further investigations to find any other individuals who were involved. The suspects will be sent to the Siem Reap Provincial Police Headquarters for further legal proceedings.
On the same day, an operation took place in Phnom Penh, with 28 suspects detained at house in Prek Cheang Prum village, Veal Sbov commune, Chbar Ampov district.
Authorities found that they were involved in romance scams and money extortion.
Of the 28 arrested, 27 are Vietnamese and one is Cambodian. The suspects were handed over to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commissioner for legal action. The location has been temporarily shuttered.
Extensive evidence to support the charges was seized in both raids.
