Cambodia has deported 355 Indonesian nationals, including 54 women, over two days in operations targeting foreign nationals linked to online scam activities, as authorities expand enforcement against cybercrime and illegal online gambling. The deportations were conducted in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy and led by Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration (GDI).
Key Facts
355 Indonesian nationals were deported over two days.
54 women were among those deported.
180 people departed on Sunday, followed by another 175 the next day.
The Indonesian Embassy reported receiving 13,400 requests for assistance from nationals connected to scam and gambling syndicates.
By October 7, 2026, the embassy had assisted 8,415 Indonesians in returning home.
In a separate operation beginning October 1, authorities detained 562 people in Poipet and Sihanoukville in connection with the wider crackdown on scam centres and online gambling.
Cambodia Intensifies Enforcement Against Online Scam Operations
The General Department of Immigration said the deportations were carried out as part of Cambodia’s campaign against technology-related crimes involving foreign nationals.
The operations were led by the department’s Investigation and Procedure Enforcement Department under Director-General Sok Veasna, following instructions from Interior Minister Sar Sokha.
According to the GDI, the actions demonstrate the government’s determination to enforce immigration laws and prevent Cambodia from being used as a base for fraudulent activities.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for authorities to identify, arrest and deport individuals involved in online scams without exception. Law enforcement agencies are also investigating cybercrime networks to identify their organisers while working to rescue victims and facilitate their safe return.
The latest deportations form part of a broader effort to address scam operations that have drawn scrutiny from Cambodian and international authorities.
Indonesian Embassy Reports 13,400 Requests for Assistance
The scale of the challenge is reflected in figures reported by the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia earlier in October.
The embassy received approximately 13,400 requests for assistance from Indonesian nationals associated with scam and gambling syndicates. Many sought help returning home because they lacked valid travel documents, could not pay immigration overstay fines or did not have enough money to purchase flights.
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Krishnajie Partadirej said the embassy assessed the cases and reported that none of the individuals reviewed had been identified as victims of human trafficking.
“The Indonesian nationals said that they were aware they would be working for online scam and gambling syndicates,” Partadirej said.
The embassy also noted that some individuals had arrived in Cambodia after the country’s anti-online scam law took effect in April 2026.
These findings reflect the embassy’s assessment of the cases it reviewed. They should not be interpreted as establishing that every Indonesian national associated with a scam operation entered Cambodia under the same circumstances.
Repatriation Efforts Address Documentation and Financial Barriers
Returning foreign nationals to their home countries can require more than an immigration enforcement decision. Missing travel documents, unpaid fines and limited financial resources can delay departure.
To address these barriers, the Indonesian Embassy reported that it had:
Issued more than 5,300 emergency travel documents.
Secured waivers for overstay fines for 5,950 individuals.
Provided transportation and other assistance to facilitate repatriation.
As of October 7, 2026, the embassy said it had assisted 8,415 Indonesians in returning home.
The figures illustrate the administrative scale of the repatriation effort. They also show the importance of coordination between immigration authorities and diplomatic missions when large numbers of foreign nationals require assistance leaving a country.
The available figures do not establish that all 13,400 requests involved people who were formally charged, convicted or deported. Requests for assistance, repatriation cases and deportation operations are different categories and should be assessed separately.
Authorities Expand Operations to Online Gambling
Cambodia’s enforcement campaign has also expanded to target online gambling operations.
Beginning October 1, 2026, authorities carried out operations that resulted in the detention of 562 nationals over the following week, according to the report. Of those detained, 550 were in Poipet and 12 were in Sihanoukville.
The Indonesian Embassy subsequently visited the 550 individuals held at a temporary detention facility in Poipet. It reported that they were in good condition and receiving consular services.
The report does not specify the final legal status of all 562 individuals or whether every detainee was linked to the same type of operation. Detention should not be treated as proof of criminal guilt.
Poipet and Sihanoukville are significant locations in Cambodia’s cross-border commercial and tourism economy. Enforcement operations in these areas therefore carry implications for immigration compliance, businesses and the authorities responsible for investigating suspected illegal activities.
Legal Compliance and the Risks Facing Foreign Nationals
Partadirej urged Indonesian nationals living in Cambodia to comply with local laws and avoid involvement in illegal activities.
The warning comes amid efforts by Cambodian authorities to distinguish between immigration violations, suspected participation in illegal operations and cases requiring victim protection or consular assistance.
For foreign nationals seeking work in Cambodia, the case highlights the importance of verifying employers, understanding the actual nature of a job before travelling, maintaining valid travel documents and avoiding offers involving deceptive recruitment or unlawful online activities.
Employers and businesses operating in Cambodia also have an interest in ensuring that recruitment practices, employment arrangements and business activities comply with Cambodian law.
Where authorities encounter people who may have been coerced, deceived or trafficked, appropriate assessment remains important. At the same time, individuals suspected of knowingly participating in criminal operations may face legal and immigration consequences, depending on the evidence and applicable law.
Angkor Times Analysis
The deportation of 355 Indonesians highlights the operational scale of Cambodia’s efforts to address online fraud and illegal gambling. The embassy’s reported 13,400 requests for assistance further indicate that repatriation involves a substantial administrative workload extending beyond the removal of individuals from the country.
Three issues are particularly important.
First, enforcement outcomes should be measured clearly. Deportations, arrests, detentions, criminal prosecutions and convictions represent different stages of law enforcement. Publishing these figures separately would help the public understand the scale and results of the crackdown without conflating suspected involvement with proven offences.
Second, cross-border coordination remains essential. Immigration agencies, police, embassies and judicial authorities have different responsibilities. Coordinated case assessments and timely travel documentation can help authorities enforce the law while ensuring that foreign nationals receive appropriate consular assistance.
Third, prevention matters alongside enforcement. Clearer employment verification, public warnings about fraudulent recruitment and cooperation with countries of origin can help reduce the number of people travelling into situations involving illegal operations. Where trafficking or coercion is suspected, individual assessments are necessary rather than assuming that all people found at a suspected scam operation have identical circumstances.
For Cambodia, sustained action against online fraud is relevant not only to law enforcement but also to public confidence, the country's international reputation and the business environment. Transparent reporting of investigations and their outcomes will be important in demonstrating progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many Indonesians did Cambodia deport?
Cambodia deported 355 Indonesian nationals over two days, including 54 women, according to the General Department of Immigration.
2. Why were the Indonesians deported?
The GDI linked the deportations to online scam activities and Cambodia’s campaign against technology-related crimes involving foreign nationals.
3. How many Indonesians requested help from their embassy?
The Indonesian Embassy reported receiving 13,400 requests for assistance from nationals associated with scam and gambling syndicates.
4. How many Indonesians had received help returning home by October 7, 2026?
The embassy reported that it had assisted 8,415 Indonesians in returning home by that date.
5. How many people were detained in the wider crackdown?
Authorities reportedly detained 562 nationals over the week following the expansion of operations on October 1, 2026: 550 in Poipet and 12 in Sihanoukville.
6. Were all the Indonesians identified as human-trafficking victims?
No. The embassy said none of the individuals it assessed in the reported cases had been identified as trafficking victims. That statement reflects the embassy’s assessment and does not establish the circumstances of every person involved in scam-related cases.
7. What should foreign nationals do to avoid legal problems in Cambodia?
They should comply with Cambodian law, verify employment offers and employers, maintain valid travel documents, and avoid participating in fraudulent or illegal activities.