The Cambodian government has highlighted that the alleged online scam activities depicted at the Long Bay development in Koh Kong province in a recent Al Jazeera investigative documentary took place before authorities launched the current large-scale crackdown. It reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and preventing them from resuming operations.
Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC), claimed Cambodia had never denied the existence of online scam operations within its territory, but stressed that the government was taking concrete action to suppress such crimes and hold those responsible accountable.
His remarks were in response to questions from journalists about the potential impact on Cambodia’s reputation and anti-scam efforts following the documentary, by Al Jazeera’s 101 East programme, which raised allegations of online scam operations and corruption at the Long Bay development.
“Cambodia has never denied the existence of online scam crimes. What matters, however, is that Cambodia is a country actively taking concrete action to combat online scams and has not backed down from this fight,” Sinarith said.
He added that the government has been implementing legal measures to eliminate technology-enabled scam operations, which have become a complex transnational crime problem.
Regarding Al Jazeera’s investigation, Sinarith was clear that the activities depicted in the documentary did not reflect the current situation following the authorities’ enforcement operations.
“The activities shown in the report took place before Cambodian authorities launched their large-scale crackdown campaign,” he said.
Sinarith argued that Al Jazeera’s report instead highlighted the difference between conditions before and after the Cambodian authorities’ crackdown, claiming that the country had successfully removed online scam operators from the targeted locations.
He did not provide the exact dates when Al Jazeera’s undercover footage was recorded or present additional evidence establishing that scam operations at Long Bay had been completely shut down.
Exposing an Alleged Crime Kingpin’s Cambodian Empire, a 24-minute documentary, was posted online on October 10. It focused on Chinese-born businessman Deng Pibing and allegations of criminal activities linked to his extensive business network in Cambodia.
Al Jazeera’s undercover investigation raised allegations involving online scam operations, drug use and connections with influential elites at the Long Bay in Koh Kong province, including a conversation in which Deng discussed providing financial support to police, even funding the construction of a police station within his resort complex.
Sinarith previously told The Post that Cambodian authorities were investigating Deng. In February 2026, authorities raided suspected scam premises at Long Bay, detaining several suspects and seizing evidence.
He said Deng had left Cambodia in late May and that, according to “specialised sources”, Interpol had issued a Red Notice for him. However, the reported notice has not been independently verified.
According to CCTC figures, between July 2025 and August 2026, Cambodian authorities conducted enforcement operations at 663 suspected scam locations, froze more than $300 million and referred 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects to the courts.
Nevertheless, some commentators have continued to express concerns that online scam activities may still be operating in the country.
Sinarith maintained that Cambodia would continue pursuing the leaders of criminal networks and strengthening international cooperation to prevent the cartels from re-establishing operations in the Kingdom.
