17-12-2025 (PHNOM PENH) Cambodian authorities have detained 16 Japanese nationals in the southern port city of Sihanoukville on suspicion of involvement in fraud targeting victims in Japan, according to an official at the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh.
The group was detained last Thursday, the embassy official said Tuesday, adding that the embassy was notified the following day and is working with the Cambodian government on next steps. No further details were immediately available on the allegations, including the nature of the suspected scheme or whether any of the detainees have been charged.
The detentions come amid a broader regional crackdown on cross-border scam operations in which Japanese citizens are alleged to have participated remotely while staying in hotels and other facilities across Southeast Asia. In some cases, host-country authorities have sent suspects back to Japan to face prosecution.
Cambodia has faced mounting scrutiny over scam activity linked to online fraud and criminal networks, with analysts and officials citing an influx of investment and rapid development around casinos and real estate in recent years. Prime Minister Hun Manet earlier this year ordered stepped-up enforcement in areas used by fraudsters, and in November 2025 Cambodian authorities detained 13 Japanese nationals in Bavet near the Vietnam border in a separate case.
