Cambodia’s new anti-scam law takes effect: 311 arrested at Phnom Penh compound in first major operation days after statute enacted

Cambodia’s Law on Countering Technology-Based Scams took effect on 7 April 2026, and authorities followed immediately with a raid on 12 April at a Phnom Penh compound that detained 311 foreign nationals under the new statute. The development signals a regional shift from advisory frameworks to criminal legislation with operational teeth, expanding the legal tools available for dismantling cyber-enabled fraud hubs and strengthening the basis for international cooperation requests. Southeast Asian scam compounds have been a persistent source of transnational cybercrime affecting victims across the EU, UK and North America, with operations typically combining fraud, money laundering and human trafficking indicators.