Cambodia Closes 200 Scam Centers

Cambodia has launched a major crackdown on transnational fraud, closing nearly 200 scam centers and arresting 173 senior crime figures. This campaign, which began late last year, intensified after the United States indicted and China extradited an alleged scam kingpin. Thousands of scam workers, many of whom are trafficking victims, have fled compounds, leading Amnesty International to label the situation a 'humanitarian crisis.' Authorities provided rare access to a complex in Kampot province, revealing large work rooms with computer stations, documents for scamming Thai victims, and fake Indian police stations. The Kampot complex, known as My Casino, saw workers flee after the detention of alleged boss Ly Kuong. Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmothurith noted the challenge of detaining such a large number of fleeing workers due to limited manpower. This latest effort is described as broader in scope than previous crackdowns, focusing on closing sites and detaining key figures.