Cambodian authorities have frozen assets linked to Prince Group with an estimated combined value of nearly $1 billion and are seeking international assistance to locate 29 alleged ringleaders who have fled overseas, as investigations into suspected technology-based fraud and money laundering expand. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC), told The Phnom Penh Post on October 21, 2026, that investigators had identified 198 companies linked to Prince Group, while courts continue proceedings involving alleged aggravated fraud and money laundering. The asset freezes are court-ordered measures, not final confiscations, and the allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Key Facts
Assets frozen: Properties and other assets linked to the Prince Group case are estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion.
Bank funds: Courts have ordered the freezing of more than $300 million held in bank accounts.
Corporate network: Investigators identified 198 companies linked to Prince Group 98 registered in Cambodia and 100 operating overseas.
International pursuit: Authorities have initiated procedures to request INTERPOL Red Notices for at least 29 individuals believed to have fled abroad.
Arrest warrants: Courts have issued warrants for 32 accused individuals and placed four others under judicial supervision, according to the report.
Six alleged ringleaders: Authorities reported that six individuals, including Prince Group founder Chen Zhi, had been arrested and referred to the courts.
Nationwide crackdown: From July 2025 to the end of September 2026, authorities took action against 910 locations associated with online scams and referred 529 cases to court.
Suspects charged and detained: A total of 5,778 suspects of multiple nationalities were charged and detained pending further proceedings.
Legal status: Asset freezes do not constitute final confiscation. Any permanent seizure remains subject to judicial review and applicable legal proceedings.
Nearly $1 Billion in Assets Linked to Prince Group Frozen
Cambodian authorities have ordered the freezing of assets estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion in connection with the ongoing investigation into Prince Group and suspected technology-based fraud.
According to Chhay Sinarith, the measures cover a range of assets, including buildings, casinos, thousands of real estate properties and movable assets believed to be connected to the alleged criminal activities.
Courts have also ordered the freezing of more than $300 million in currency held in bank accounts.
The scale of the measures indicates that the investigation extends beyond identifying individuals allegedly involved in fraud. Authorities are also examining corporate structures, property holdings and financial resources that may have supported the suspected operations.
Investigators are reviewing the legal grounds and supporting evidence to determine how the assets should be managed while proceedings continue. Options under consideration could include placing properties under temporary state administration or transferring them into permanent state ownership, subject to the applicable legal process.
The distinction between freezing and confiscation is important. A freeze restricts the handling or transfer of assets while legal questions are examined. It does not, by itself, establish that the assets are criminal proceeds or mean that the state has permanently acquired them.
The final disposition of the properties and funds will depend on judicial decisions and the outcome of the relevant proceedings.
Investigators Identify 198 Companies Linked to Prince Group
The investigation has identified an extensive corporate network connected to Prince Group, according to Sinarith.
Of the 198 companies identified, 98 were registered in Cambodia and another 100 were operating overseas.
Authorities have described the case as complex because of the size of the corporate network and its operations across national borders. Investigations have been underway for several months.
Sinarith said investigators had identified Prince Group founder Chen Zhi and associates as key suspects. The courts are continuing their investigations into allegations of aggravated fraud committed by an organised group and aggravated money laundering.
Authorities allege that buildings and casino premises operating under the names of Prince Group-affiliated companies were used to conceal online scam operations.
The findings reported so far do not establish that every company identified was directly involved in criminal activity. The nature of each company’s relationship to the alleged operations would need to be assessed through evidence and the relevant legal proceedings.
The corporate network is nevertheless a significant focus of the investigation because tracing company ownership, financial transactions and property holdings can help investigators determine whether assets are connected to suspected offences.
Cambodia Seeks INTERPOL Assistance to Locate Suspects Overseas
Cambodian authorities are pursuing suspects believed to have left the country, with procedures initiated to request INTERPOL Red Notices for at least 29 individuals.
The requests form part of efforts to obtain international assistance in locating and potentially apprehending people wanted in connection with the investigation.
Authorities reported that courts had issued arrest warrants for 32 accused individuals and placed four others under judicial supervision. Investigators were also working to identify five additional suspects and trace assets believed to be associated with the alleged activities.
Six alleged ringleaders, Chen Zhi, Li Song, Liu Yin, Eng Dara, Eang Soklim and Huang Ron, had been arrested and referred to the courts, according to Sinarith.
These reported legal actions represent different stages of the process. An arrest, an arrest warrant and a request for an INTERPOL Red Notice are not equivalent to a conviction.
INTERPOL Red Notices are international requests to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. They are not themselves international arrest warrants, and any action in another jurisdiction depends on that country’s laws and procedures.
The pursuit of suspects abroad reflects the cross-border dimension of the investigation and the need for cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different countries.
FBI and Chinese Authorities Among International Partners
Sinarith said Cambodian investigators were working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), China’s Ministry of Public Security and other international partners.
The cooperation involves exchanging intelligence and gathering additional evidence for judicial proceedings.
Such collaboration can be important in cases involving companies, financial accounts, properties and suspects located in multiple jurisdictions. Investigators may need to establish corporate ownership, trace transactions and obtain evidence held outside Cambodia.
The report does not detail specific intelligence exchanges, additional arrests resulting from international cooperation or the precise role of each foreign agency in individual aspects of the case.
The extent to which cooperation produces further recoveries or arrests will depend on evidence, legal procedures and the willingness and ability of relevant jurisdictions to assist.
Nationwide Anti-Scam Campaign Targets 910 Locations
The Prince Group investigation is taking place within a wider Cambodian government campaign against technology-based fraud.
According to figures provided by Sinarith to The Phnom Penh Post, authorities took action against 910 locations associated with online scam operations between July 2025 and the end of September 2026.
The locations included 86 major scam centres. During the same period, authorities referred 529 cases to the courts and charged and detained 5,778 suspects of multiple nationalities pending further judicial proceedings.
Authorities also identified 28 casino locations implicated in suspected criminal activities, with investigations continuing into operations allegedly conducted under the cover of casinos or other licensed businesses.
These figures describe the broader campaign and should not be interpreted as totals relating exclusively to Prince Group.
Key figures from the broader crackdown
| Indicator | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Locations targeted or investigated | 910 |
| Major scam centres identified | 86 |
| Cases referred to court | 529 |
| Suspects charged and detained | 5,778 |
| Casino locations under investigation | 28 |
| Foreign nationals repatriated | 22,892 |
| Countries represented among repatriated nationals | 40 |
The figures illustrate the scale of the enforcement campaign, which includes investigations into physical locations, court proceedings against suspects and efforts to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting alleged scam operations.
The report does not provide a breakdown showing how many of the 910 locations, 529 cases or 5,778 suspects are directly associated with Prince Group.
More Than 22,000 Foreign Nationals Repatriated
Cambodian authorities also processed the repatriation of 22,892 foreign nationals from 40 countries who were found at locations associated with illegal operations.
Sinarith said some individuals had been deceived or lured by criminal syndicates, while others had violated Cambodian immigration laws.
Authorities said repatriations were conducted in accordance with immigration legislation and international humanitarian standards.
The distinction matters because foreign nationals found at suspected scam locations cannot automatically be classified as offenders. Their individual circumstances may differ, including whether they were allegedly involved in criminal activity, had entered or remained in the country unlawfully, or had been recruited or coerced by criminal networks.
The reported repatriation figure therefore should not be interpreted as the number of people convicted of online fraud or as a measure of the total number of trafficking victims.
The available report does not provide a detailed breakdown of the 22,892 individuals by nationality, immigration status, alleged role or victim status.
Why Asset Tracing Matters in the Fight Against Online Scams?
The investigation’s emphasis on frozen bank funds, property holdings and corporate networks reflects a broader enforcement strategy: pursuing suspected criminal proceeds as well as the people allegedly responsible for fraud.
Online scam operations can involve complex financial arrangements and businesses operating across borders. Investigators may need to examine company records, bank transactions, property ownership and other evidence to determine how money moved and whether specific assets are connected to alleged offences.
Freezing assets can help preserve property while courts examine competing legal claims and the evidence supporting the case. It may also restrict the ability to transfer or dispose of assets while investigations continue.
However, the amount frozen is not necessarily the same as the amount proven to have been generated by crime, nor does it indicate how much money may ultimately be recovered by victims or the state.
In the Prince Group case, authorities have reported substantial asset freezes, but the final legal status of the properties and funds remains unresolved.
Angkor Times Analysis: The Investigation’s Next Test Is Legal Accountability and Asset Recovery
The Prince Group case has become a major test of Cambodia’s efforts to pursue suspected online fraud through financial investigations, corporate tracing and international law enforcement cooperation.
The reported identification of 198 linked companies, the freezing of assets estimated at nearly $1 billion and the pursuit of suspects overseas demonstrate the breadth of the investigation. The wider campaign figures also indicate that enforcement is addressing a large number of locations and cases beyond this single corporate network.
Yet the significance of the reported figures must be assessed carefully.
First, frozen assets are not the same as assets permanently confiscated. Courts must determine the legal status of the properties and funds, taking account of the evidence and any applicable claims.
Second, suspects who have been arrested, charged or named in international requests have not necessarily been convicted. Their criminal responsibility must be determined through the judicial process.
Third, the number of companies identified does not establish that every company was involved in alleged criminal activity. Investigators must establish the relevant connections through evidence.
For businesses and investors, the case highlights the importance of transparent ownership structures, effective compliance controls and appropriate scrutiny of counterparties, particularly where corporate networks and cross-border financial transactions are involved. These are general risk-management considerations, not findings that any particular company or transaction is unlawful.
The longer-term outcome will depend on whether investigators can assemble admissible evidence, secure cooperation across jurisdictions, establish criminal responsibility in court and resolve the disposition of frozen assets through lawful procedures.
The nearly $1 billion valuation is a substantial headline figure, but the more consequential measures of progress will be the judicial outcomes, any assets ultimately recovered, the treatment of potential victims and the extent to which enforcement disrupts the financial networks supporting online scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much in Prince Group-linked assets has Cambodia frozen?
Authorities reported court-ordered freezes covering assets with an estimated combined value of nearly $1 billion, including more than $300 million in bank-account funds. The larger estimate includes properties and movable assets linked to the case.
How many companies linked to Prince Group have been identified?
Investigators identified 198 companies: 98 registered in Cambodia and 100 operating overseas, according to Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith.
Why are Cambodian authorities seeking 29 INTERPOL Red Notices?
Authorities have initiated procedures to request Red Notices for at least 29 individuals who allegedly fled overseas and are wanted in connection with the ongoing investigation. A Red Notice is a request for international assistance to locate and provisionally arrest a person; it is not itself an international arrest warrant.
Has Prince Group founder Chen Zhi been arrested?
The report states that Cambodian authorities confirmed Chen Zhi was among six alleged ringleaders arrested and referred to the courts for further legal proceedings. The allegations remain subject to the judicial process.
Have the frozen assets been permanently confiscated?
No. The report explicitly states that the freezes are not final confiscations. Permanent seizures remain subject to judicial review and the outcome of legal proceedings.
How extensive is Cambodia’s wider anti-scam campaign?
From July 2025 to the end of September 2026, authorities took action against 910 locations associated with online scams, including 86 major scam centres. They referred 529 cases to court and charged and detained 5,778 suspects pending further proceedings.
Were all repatriated foreign nationals identified as scam offenders?
No. According to Sinarith, some had been deceived or lured by criminal syndicates, while others had violated immigration laws. The report does not classify all 22,892 repatriated individuals as offenders or trafficking victims.
Sources and Further Reading
The Phnom Penh Post — Raksmey Hong, “Anti-scam action sees $1 billion in Prince Group assets frozen; 29 INTERPOL notices sought,” published October 21, 2026. report
INTERPOL — Information on Red Notices and international police cooperation.
Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC) — Enforcement figures and statements attributed to Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith in the original report.