Across the globe, an alarming surge in reports of cyberscam operations targeting vulnerable individuals online has emerged. Southeast Asia has increasingly become a focal point for these illicit networks, often taking root in isolated and conflict-stricken areas. Cambodia, in particular, has seen the scam industry thrive, operating right under the noses of governmental authorities.
Throughout much of the previous year, numerous countries voiced concerns about criminal organizations based in Cambodia that had successfully lured tens of thousands of unsuspecting individuals to its borders with the enticing allure of lucrative job offers and complimentary accommodations. Instead of fulfilling these promises, many found themselves trapped in grim facilities, coerced into working for online scam operations while being closely monitored in unremarkable compounds. This has becoThe individuals who have suffered at the hands of traffickers recount a troubling tale of deceit. They responded to what they believed were genuine job advertisements, lured by the promise of attractive salaries. However, upon being drawn into these deceptive operations, they found themselves imprisoned and compelled to commit fraud against unsuspecting victims. Many were instructed to lure others online with offers that included fake investment schemes, alluring interest-free loans, or the opportunity to purchase goods through counterfeit e-commerce platforms. Those who failed to meet expectations faced dire consequences, often being sold off to other scam operations, while anyone attempting to flee was met with severe violence.
In a poignant example, Nathan, a national from the Philippines, was led to believe he had secured a customer service position in Thailand. Instead, he ended up in Cambodia, where he was forced into an underworld of online deception and faced beatings for his refusal to comply. Although he eventually managed to return to his home country, the specter of retaliation still looms over him.
According to the U.S. State Department, approximately 10,000 individuals from various nations remain ensnared in such exploitative environments across Cambodia. The majority of these victims hail from countries like China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Governments from these regions have collaborated with Cambodian authorities to rescue their citizens; however, the initiatives have largely been reactive and limited to individual cases.
In a report released in June, Interpol revealed that tens of thousands of people had been trafficked into Southeast Asia, with Cambodia serving as the initial hub before the problem spread to Myanmar and Laos. The organization cautioned that the alarming trend of ensnaring individuals for cyberscam operations has escalated, transforming what was once regarded as a regional issue into a significant global human trafficking crisis.
One harrowing escape story illustrates the severity of this situation: In April, a 23-year-old man from Vietnam managed to break free from a stark white building located in Cambodia’s Koh Kong Province. He approached local law enforcement and shared his harrowing experience—detailing how he had been confined and forced to work grueling hours from 5:30 p.m. until 11 a.m. every day. A senior police officer from the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on media communication, confirmed the young man’s account, shedding light on the ongoing plight faced by many in such dire circumstances.me part of a vast multibillion-dollar enterprise that ensnares victims from various nations.
Faced with mounting criticism, Cambodia declared a crackdown on these activities in August 2022. Since that time, officials have reported rescuing over 2,000 foreign nationals, closing down five businesses involved in the scams, and arresting 95 individuals. However, interviews conducted by The New York Times with law enforcement officials, human rights advocates, and those who have been rescued reveal that the shadowy industry continues to flourish. This persistence can be attributed to influential businessmen who maintain close connections with high-ranking officials within the Cambodian government, as well as a patronage system that shields these operations from police scrutiny.
Despite the government’s efforts to clamp down on this issue and the wealth of evidence linking prominent Cambodian figures to the scam operations, no significant arrests have been made against any major players involved in this troubling trade.
A map highlights the locations of Cambodia’s Koh Kong Province, the northwestern town of O’ Smach, and the coastal resort city of Sihanoukville in the southern part of the country.
In this geographical context, we find ourselves in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
Recently, a man recounted to law enforcement a harrowing ordeal he endured. He explained that he had been coerced into deceiving victims through online scams and had desperately sought to escape his captors, who demanded a ransom of approximately $2,000 for his freedom. In a moment of desperation, he leapt from a window and fled into the dense jungle surrounding the area.
The senior police official he confided in was already aware of the troubling situation at the compound where the man had been held. Numerous other victims had also reached out for help, yearning for rescue from their captivity. However, the officer recognized the daunting challenge of intervening—gaining access to the site would necessitate special authorization from the Interior Ministry. This bureaucratic hurdle stemmed from the alleged ownership of the property by Senator Ly Yong Phat, a powerful figure in Cambodia’s business landscape and a close advisor to Hun Manet, who recently succeeded his father, Hun Sen, as prime minister.
Deputy Governor Somkhit Vien of Koh Kong disclosed that since January, authorities had successfully liberated 17 foreign nationals hailing from countries such as India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand from compounds linked to Senator Ly Yong Phat or his enterprise, the LYP Group. Efforts to reach Mr. Ly Yong Phat for comment have been met with silence.
In a striking portrayal of the situation, Mr. Somkhit Vien framed the matter more as a workplace disagreement than a criminal issue. He noted that there were no documented instances of torture. In certain cases, those requesting rescue expressed a desire to leave but were reportedly prevented from doing so because they had not yet settled their “debts” with the companies that had ensnared them. Victims often shared that after being trafficked into these compounds, they were informed they could not depart until they paid off substantial sums—amounts sometimes reaching into the thousands of dollars—under the guise of debt or ransom.
As this disturbing narrative unfolds, it raises urgent questions about accountability and justice in a system where human lives can be commodified and exploited under the pretext of business operations.
Numerous individuals who have fallen victim to trafficking recount harrowing experiences upon their arrival at various compounds, where they were informed that their freedom was contingent upon repaying exorbitant debts or ransoms amounting to thousands of dollars.
Although no definitive proof has surfaced that directly connects Senator Ly Yong Phat to the operations of these cyberscams, activists assert that affluent figures like him play a pivotal role in facilitating these illicit activities by providing a façade that allows them to dodge law enforcement scrutiny.
A group known as Cyber Scam Monitor, which is dedicated to documenting the wrongdoings prevalent in this industry, has pinpointed seven individuals believed to have associations with entrepreneurs managing the facilities where these cyberscam operations occur. This list includes some senators, among them Mr. Ly Yong Phat, as well as various officials, wealthy businesspersons, and their relatives.
Even if the proprietors of these compounds are not actively engaged in human rights violations, they nonetheless hold a degree of accountability “due to their connections with businesses operating within these premises,” remarked Pichamon Yeophantong, chairwoman of the U.N. Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
Mr. Ly Yong Phat’s influence stretches beyond the immediate vicinity, reaching other compounds located in Koh Kong and the northwestern town of O’Smach. Reports from foreign workers indicate they were held captive there before ultimately being rescued, according to statements from local law enforcement and government representatives. These properties are frequently leased to Chinese nationals whose identities remain elusive, complicating efforts to make arrests since many victims lack knowledge about their captors.
“The international community has struggled to navigate the complex intersection of power dynamics and criminal activities in Cambodia,” stated Naly Pilorge, the outreach director for a Cambodian human rights organization. She emphasized the necessity for a more unified and robust response from both regional and global entities to tackle operations of such magnitude.
In Koh Kong, a senior police officer recounted the story of a Vietnamese man who managed to escape captivity. Local official Thkov Bunke corroborated this account, confirming that a Vietnamese individual had indeed fled from the area.
Thus begins the tale of the ‘King of Koh Kong,’ a figure who has wielded authority. Sebastian Strangio, the author of “Hun Sen’s Cambodia,” provides insight into the intricate web of patronage that characterizes the political landscape in Cambodia, suggesting that this system contributes to the unlikelihood of holding any officials accountable for their involvement in online scam operations.
According to Strangio, the powerful figures entangled in these illicit activities are closely tied to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who depends on them for support and influence. This connection complicates efforts to seek justice against those implicated in such scams.
In the region where a Vietnamese man managed to escape, Mr. Ly Yong Phat has earned the moniker “King of Koh Kong.” He is a prominent figure in the province, known for his extensive land holdings, ownership of sugar refineries, and his role as the financier behind a crucial bridge that connects Koh Kong to Thailand. His influence was underscored just last week when the Cambodian government revealed that he had been appointed an adviser to Hun Manet, thus elevating him to a status equivalent to a cabinet minister. Previously, he had served as an adviser to Hun Sen himself, solidifying his position as a formidable player within the Cambodian power structure. Such ties have rendered him nearly immune from scrutiny or legal repercussions in the eyes of many law enforcement officials.
In a broader context, the past year has seen various law enforcement agencies from countries like China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia attempting to rescue their citizens who have become ensnared in Cambodia’s murky underworld. However, these efforts have frequently been thwarted by the Cambodian police force.
Thailand’s deputy national police chief, General Surachate Hakparn, has openly accused Cambodian authorities of complicity in online scam operations and of failing to take adequate measures against implicated officials. During his visit last April, when he aimed to rescue over 3,000 Thai nationals identified across 17 locations, he alleged that the Cambodian authorities actively sought to undermine his mission, resulting in only about 100 individuals being successfully freed.
In one particularly fraught operation in Sihanoukville, a coastal resort city, General Surachate recalled how he was aware that victims were located on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors of a specific hotel. However, on the day of the raid, an informant alerted him that Cambodian officials had relocated the workers, illustrating the challenges faced by those seeking to confront the pervasive corruption and organized crime that thrive within the region.ded considerable influence for decades, leaving an indelible mark on the region and its dark underbelly.
In the coastal resort city of Sihanoukville, a significant operation was underway when General Surachate made a startling revelation: he was aware that victims were located on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors of a hotel. However, on the day of the raid, he received alarming news from an informant indicating that Cambodian officials had relocated the workers, throwing a wrench into his plans.
The scene was tense. A large building loomed within a fortified perimeter, a site where authorities later uncovered 
harrowing evidence of human trafficking, kidnapping, and torture. General Surachate recounted a confrontation with Neth Savoeun, the police chief at the time. He accused Savoeun of undermining the operation. In response, Savoeun deflected responsibility, claiming that the hotel owner was uncooperative. Recently, Neth Savoeun, who is related by marriage to former Prime Minister Hun Sen, received a promotion to deputy prime minister but did not provide any comments through a police spokesperson when approached.
General Surachate expressed skepticism about the Cambodian crackdown, labeling it as “all drama.” Yet, he clung to the hope that a forthcoming collaborative effort with Chinese law enforcement, authorized by Cambodian authorities, could lead to the rescue of approximately 3,000 Thais still trapped in the country.
However, experts like Jacob Sims from the International Justice Mission warn that simply shutting down a single facility or rescuing its occupants fails to tackle the broader issues at play. “Unless there’s a robust emphasis on holding perpetrators accountable, one operation may close down only for another to spring up in its place,” he cautioned. Sims estimates that the revenue generated from these illicit operations in Cambodia could surpass an astonishing $12 billion annually, based on both official statistics and testimonies from victims.
The plight of those caught in these dire circumstances is starkly illustrated by the experience of Nathan, a Filipino man who found himself in O’Smach near the Thai border in May. Lured by the promise of a customer service position in Thailand, Nathan’s excitement quickly turned to dread as he approached the Cambodia-Thailand border crossing. It was then that he began to sense that something was terribly wrong. The ominous sight of barbed wire and the oppressive atmosphere hinted at the grim reality that lay ahead, forcing him to confront the possibility that his journey could have cost him his life.
Upon reaching the border crossing between Cambodia and Thailand, he quickly sensed that something was off. The sight of barbed wire and towering walls surrounding the facility heightened his unease. On his very first day, Nathan learned that his role wouldn’t involve customer service as he had anticipated; instead, he was to engage in a deceptive scheme targeting British and American citizens. The plan was to cultivate romantic connections with unsuspecting individuals through dating platforms such as Tinder.
Nathan, who requested anonymity under the nickname he uses out of fear for his safety, recounted his desperate attempts to escape this harrowing situation. His efforts were met with brutal consequences; six men attacked him, delivering kicks, punches, and striking him with both a baseball bat and a metal pipe. “In that moment, I genuinely believed I might lose my life,” he recalled.
Despite the savage beating, Nathan ultimately found himself released by his captors, though he remains uncertain about the reasons behind their decision. Now back in the Philippines, he feels compelled to demand accountability from the owners of the facility where he endured such trauma.
A reporter from The Times ventured to O’Smach to locate the very building that held Nathan captive. Conversations with local officials revealed that the property is owned by Mr. Ly Yong Phat.
On June 22, the town celebrated the groundbreaking of a new secondary school. Local official Pen Kosal took to Facebook to announce that this initiative was “a gift from Prime Minister Hun Sen via tycoon Ly Yong Phat.”
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