Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Dramatic footage from a police raid at the Jinbian Mendu Hotel in Sen Sok district has gone viral, showing Cambodian authorities dismantling a sophisticated online scam operation. The joint operation by the Phnom Penh Unified Command on Sunday afternoon (March 22, 2026) resulted in the arrest of 49 suspects – all foreigners – and the seizure of 687 mobile phones, computers, and a large haul of Malaysian SIM cards.
The raid targeted the hotel on Street 1019 in Trung Moan village, O Bek Kaom commune. Video from the scene (widely shared on X by lovinghanaTV) captures tactical police officers bursting into rooms filled with rows of computer workstations.
Suspects are seen being detained at their desks amid multiple monitors and scam equipment – a classic setup for transnational fraud rings operating call-center-style scams from Cambodia.
Authorities say the group was running fake investment scams, primarily targeting victims in Malaysia and other countries by using local Malaysian SIM cards to appear more credible. The suspects reportedly included mostly Chinese nationals, along with three Malaysians and individuals from Vietnam and Myanmar (plus one Cambodian woman). They had recently relocated their operation from Tbong Khmum province.
Phnom Penh Police Commissioner Chuon Narin led the operation under orders from the Phnom Penh Administrative Unified Command, with legal proceedings coordinated by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The arrested individuals have been handed over for further investigation and are expected to face charges of aggravated fraud and organized crime.
This bust is part of Cambodia’s aggressive crackdown on cyber scam centers. The government has vowed to shut down all such operations by the end of April 2026, following international pressure from countries like Malaysia, China, and the US. These networks have defrauded victims of billions of dollars globally through romance scams, fake investments, and impersonation schemes.
Social media reactions to the viral video have been widespread, with many users (especially in Nigeria and Ghana) noting the absence of any West African nationals among those arrested and calling out unfair stereotypes around cybercrime.
This operation highlights the growing fight against Southeast Asia’s scam compounds, which often exploit vulnerable foreign workers and prey on victims worldwide.
Phnom Police make 49 arrests, seize 687 phones, and Malaysian SIM cards, following a Police operation at Jinbian Hotel in Sen Sok pic.twitter.com/MCPE81jILJ
— LOVIN GHANA TV (@lovinghanaTV) March 23, 2026
Source:Phnom Penh Post
