An official from the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh stated on Tuesday that 16 Japanese nationals had been detained by Cambodian police on suspicion of engaging in fraud activities in Japan.
Last Thursday, the 16 were taken into custody in the southern coastal city of Sihanoukville. The official said that the next day, the embassy was informed. The embassy intends to work with the Cambodian government to manage the situation.
While lodging in hotels and other establishments in several Southeast Asian nations, numerous Japanese people are reported to have remotely engaged in fraudulent activities in Japan. After being apprehended by authorities in various nations, several of them were sent to Japan to be prosecuted.
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Cambodia is said to have become a magnet for such fraud activities after investment money poured into the real estate and casino industries as a result of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. With criminal groups also flowing in, the country has seen its law and order deteriorate.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered authorities to step up law enforcement in locations used by fraudsters. In November, 13 Japanese nationals were detained in Bavet, a southeastern area that borders Vietnam, for alleged involvement in fraud activities.