The police in Poipet, Cambodia, recently launched a large-scale raid, successfully dismantling a criminal stronghold in the Phsar Kandal district, centered around overseas gambling fraud. About 50 Japanese suspects were controlled on the spot and were taken to Phnom Penh overnight for further investigation.
According to sources close to the investigation, the criminal den was disguised as an ordinary residence, with several villas around it as visual cover, providing high concealment and long-term evasion of local law enforcement. This raid was carried out by the Poipet city police with a large number of police forces, completely blocking the area to ensure that all personnel at the scene could not escape.
Gambling fraud gang has been lurking for many years, suspected of various types of cybercrime
The stronghold was specifically targeting online users in Japan and other Asian countries, implementing gambling-related fake investment attraction, manipulating odds, and illegal money laundering. During the operation, a large amount of computer equipment, SIM cards, and gambling platform backend terminals used for remote control and communication were seized, and preliminary evidence shows that the gang has been operating for many years with a tight organizational structure.
Many local residents stated that the Poipet area has long been home to foreign-controlled online fraud centers, many of which operate under the guise of "online gambling" or "technical outsourcing" for illegal activities. Many dens are hidden and managed in a closed manner, and even if foreign personnel frequently enter and exit, it is extremely difficult to detect their real purpose.
The authorities have not yet officially announced, and the outside world is highly concerned
As of now, the Cambodian National Police has not yet issued an official announcement. However, a senior source familiar with the operation said that this large-scale arrest shows Cambodia's tough stance on combating transnational gambling and telecommunications fraud, and similar clearance operations will continue to be executed in multiple high-risk areas in the future.
This raid has attracted great attention from Japan, and the embassy in Cambodia has contacted the Cambodian side, requesting notification of the detained personnel list and judicial procedures. The identity background of the suspects and their specific roles in the fraud chain are still under investigation, and more case details are expected to be gradually disclosed in future official announcements.
Due to its proximity to the Thai border and relatively lax management, Poipet has become a gathering place for multiple cross-border gambling and online fraud gangs in recent years. There have been several large-scale fraud dens involving Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai nationals previously investigated here. This large-scale arrest of Japanese suspects also reflects the increasing trend of internationalization of fraud gangs.
