TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Cambodian authorities have detained 75 Taiwanese nationals during raids on internet fraud operations in Phnom Penh and the coastal city of Sihanoukville, officials announced Wednesday (July 16). The Taiwanese suspects were among approximately 1,000 individuals apprehended in a massive nationwide crackdown. The operation, which began Tuesday, targets sophisticated online scam compounds that have flourished throughout Cambodia in recent years, often staffed by foreign nationals working under questionable circumstances.
The fate of the detained Taiwanese nationals remains uncertain amid diplomatic tensions over jurisdiction. A troubling precedent was established this April when Cambodian authorities transferred numerous Taiwanese fraud suspects to China despite formal repatriation requests from Taiwan's government. In that case, 180 Taiwanese citizens were arrested in similar scam compounds, but many were subsequently handed over to Chinese authorities who claim jurisdiction over Taiwanese criminal suspects, reflecting China's stance that Taiwan is part of its territory.
Human rights advocates have documented disturbing conditions within these criminal enterprises, with many workers claiming they were lured to Cambodia with false promises of legitimate employment before having their passports confiscated. Amnesty International published findings last month identifying at least 53 active scam operations throughout Cambodia. Victims reported systematic human rights abuses including human trafficking, forced labor, child exploitation, physical torture, unlawful confinement, and conditions amounting to modern slavery.
The nationwide raids were initiated under direct orders from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who has characterized the targeted facilities as "cybercrime sweatshops" that damage Cambodia's international reputation. The premier has mobilized both police and military personnel to dismantle these criminal networks operating throughout the country. United Nations officials estimate the staggering scale of the problem, reporting that online fraud schemes across Southeast Asia generate approximately US$40 billion annually (roughly NT$1.2 trillion at current exchange rates). ◼