Chaos in Sihanoukville as hundreds flee scam centers after kingpin arrest

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia — Hundreds of workers fled a suspected cyber-scam complex in Sihanoukville on Monday following the arrest and deportation of a high-profile kingpin.

Witnesses observed crowds hauling suitcases, computer monitors, and personal belongings into vehicles on Jan. 15. The mass exodus comes as Cambodian authorities targeted Chen Zhi, a prominent wanted suspect linked to the illicit operations.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged to "eliminate" the country's multi-billion dollar cybercrime industry. Government officials reported that authorities have raided 118 locations and arrested approximately 5,000 people over the last six months.

Despite the crackdown, local analysts and residents expressed skepticism, describing the recent law enforcement actions as "crime-fighting theater." Witnesses reported that many employees vacated the premises days before police arrived, fueling suspicions that the centers received advance warning of the raids.

The online scam industry is estimated to cause tens of billions of dollars in global losses annually. Experts believe hundreds of thousands of people are currently working in Cambodian scam centers, either voluntarily or under coercion.

Recent enforcement actions in Sihanoukville appear to be a strategic restructuring of the region’s illicit industry rather than a genuine dismantling. The mass exodus of personnel just prior to police arrivals suggests a high degree of collusion, leading analysts to characterize the crackdown as "security theater." The Prime Minister Hun Manet administration seems to be pursuing a dual objective: securing diplomatic leverage with Beijing while preserving the operational capacity of these lucrative criminal networks.

The swift deportation of kingpin Chen Zhi to China—effectively bypassing domestic prosecution and preempting a potential 2025 U.S. indictment—serves as a stark indicator of Beijing’s deepening regional hegemony. China is increasingly deploying extraterritorial law enforcement to protect its citizens from fraud, and regional governments like Cambodia find themselves with little choice but to facilitate these interventions.

For Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, the Sihanoukville maneuvers signal that scam hubs are not being eradicated, but are simply evolving or migrating to more permissive jurisdictions. Transnational fraud and human trafficking remain critical security threats, fueled by the exploitation of workers lured by the promise of high-wage employment. As these syndicates "relocate" rather than disband, the regional struggle against organized crime faces a persistent and hydra-headed challenge.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities our families in Vietnam face. Fraud networks are no longer just local threats; they have evolved into global operations that specifically target the Vietnamese diaspora. For many in our community—whether working in the nail salon industry, running phở restaurants, or managing the complexities of F2B and EB-5 visa applications—the hard-earned remittances sent home are increasingly at risk. These sophisticated scams do more than just cause financial strain; they strike at the heart of our families' security and peace of mind, from the streets of Little Saigon to our ancestral provinces.