Cambodia’s Hun Manet denies state profiting from scam centre proceeds

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Wednesday that scam centres were destroying his country’s economy and giving the nation a bad name – pushing back on allegations of government connivance.The nation has emerged as a hotspot for crime syndicates running a multibillion-dollar fraud industry that sees scammers lure internet users globally into fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency investments.“The scam network, what we call the black economy, is destroying our honest economy. It has put a bad reputation on Cambodia,” Hun Manet said in a rare interview with international media, saying this was harming tourism and investment.“This is the reason why we need to clean this out.”A Thai soldier inspects a workstation inside a scam compound in O’Smach, Cambodia, on February 2, 2026. Photo: APA clampdown has resulted in thousands of arrests, according to government officials, and the recent extradition to China of a former adviser to Cambodia’s leaders.But some industry experts have questioned the authenticity of such efforts, pointing to alleged links between Cambodian officials and cyber-scam networks.