Cambodia Shutters Casino Tied to Cybercrime Operations

Cambodia’s law enforcement has targeted the Silver Star Casino in Svay Rieng province in a recent raid, alleging that the casino has been involved in large-scale cybersecurity fraud.

The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Cybercrime coordinated the operation on November 1 and worked with the National Police General Directorate, the Svay Rieng Provincial Court Prosecutor, and the Cambodian Commercial Gambling Commission to successfully identify the culprits, operations, and conduct the raid itself.

Police Raids Shutter Casinos Suspected of Running Illegal and Criminal Activities

According to investigators, there was strong evidence to suggest that the property was used to conduct cybercrime, leading to the arrests of 23 foreign nationals, among whom were Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Nepalese, and other citizens.

Conducting the raid, authorities were also able to seize 24 call center phones, 19 passports, and 20 mobile devices that had been supposedly used to conduct various criminal activities, investigators said. The property itself, the Silver Star Casino, has now had its license suspended pending investigation, and it is possible that the license would be revoked entirely.

The operation has been hailed as a success, leading to the arrest of the suspected masterminds behind the operation. However, this is not the only instance of shuttered casinos over the past days in Cambodia, again tied to cybercriminal activities.

On November 2, the National Police also shuttered four other premises, including the Jin Bei Group Co, Ltd, the Jin Bei Casino, the G.C. Casino, and the Jin Bei 4 Casino. All of these four properties had their licenses previously suspended on October 16, but a raid and arrests have only been carried out now, shuttering their operations for good.

Cambodia’s Name is Often Associated with Illegal Gambling

Crime in physical casinos in Cambodia has been well-documented, with the country’s gaming halls often associated with human trafficking and other Internet scams, such as pig-butchering and crypto schemes.

In September, South Korean authorities busted a $31-million illegal gambling ring that had been operating out of Cambodia. Due to mounting tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, in June, Thailand prohibited its citizens from crossing the border with Cambodia to work in local casinos.