IN PICTURES: Hundreds Arrested in Major Scam Centre Crackdown in Bavet City

Bavet City, Cambodia — Cambodian police launched a major crackdown early Friday on a large-scale online scam centre in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, detaining hundreds of suspected perpetrators, most of them foreign nationals.

The operation took place on the morning of January 31, 2026, following orders from General Sar Thet, Commissioner-General of the National Police. The raid was led by Lieutenant General Muong Sothea and Lieutenant General Chiv Phally, Deputy Commissioners-General of the National Police, with coordination from a prosecutor attached to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court.

Photos from the scene showed specialized police units securing multiple buildings and escorting groups of suspects from the compound. Officers were also seen conducting searches inside the premises.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact number of arrests or the items seized. Police said investigations are ongoing and further details will be released after suspects are formally processed.

The crackdown is part of Cambodia’s broader effort to dismantle online scam networks, particularly in border areas such as Bavet City, which has been repeatedly linked to transnational cybercrime.