Kathmandu— Cambodia announced on Thursday that it no longer hosts any of the scam compounds which had turned the country into a major hub for cybercrime, a declaration met with skepticism from Amnesty International and industry analysts who say independent verification is lacking. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the government’s ad hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, told 50 foreign diplomats and international officials that large-scale scam activities have been brought under control, following strict legal actions against perpetrators and a new cybersecurity framework. While acknowledging a shift to more decentralized operations, authorities maintain they will continue targeting these criminal groups.

Government Crackdown and Reported Results

According to a government statement released Friday, law enforcement investigated 793 suspected locations and raided 624 sites between July 2025 and August 20, 2026. The crackdown resulted in the detention of nearly 30,000 suspects representing 39 nationalities. Authorities reported rescuing and deporting 58,266 foreign nationals, while 3,477 suspects from 29 nationalities remain jailed pending trial.

Concerns Over Verification and Long-Term Impact

Amnesty International expressed strong skepticism regarding the claim of complete eradication. Montse Ferrer, co-regional director for the organization, stated that the true measure of success lies not in closed compounds but in the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of future operations by those responsible. Independent anti-trafficking consultant Mark Taylor similarly questioned the government’s assertion, citing credible indicators suggesting ongoing scamming activities and continued recruitment of foreign workers.

Shift to Decentralized Operations

The Cambodian government acknowledges that criminal groups are adapting by moving away from large compounds and instead operating out of guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles, and coffee shops. Authorities have pledged to continue targeting these decentralized operations, indicating the fight against cybercrime is ongoing despite the reported closure of the major compounds. These compounds, largely run by Chinese criminal syndicates, had proliferated across Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Myanmar-Thai border areas since the pandemic.

Reuters has not independently confirmed the Cambodian government's claim of eradication, leaving questions about the long-term effectiveness of the crackdown and the true extent of remaining scam operations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.