Phnom penh: Fifteen Japanese nationals have been arrested in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on charges of operating a telephone and online scam center. The Japanese Embassy in Cambodia disclosed that the individuals were using Cambodia as a base to defraud victims in Japan.
According to Thai News Agency, Cambodian authorities informed the Japanese Embassy last Friday about the arrests. Embassy officials have since met with all the detainees to confirm their nationality. The detainees remain in Cambodian custody as the investigation continues, with expectations of extradition to Japan for prosecution, mirroring a similar case from January.
This arrest is part of a broader operation by the Cambodian government to eliminate online crime and call centers by April. In the first half of February, authorities raided over 2,700 suspected sites in Phnom Penh, apprehending more than 20,000 foreigners involved in such networks. Japan has been working closely with Cambodian police, with several Japanese citizens already extradited to Tokyo since 2025. Some were found to be victims of human trafficking, while others were confirmed members of criminal gangs.