Nine Countries Including Korea, the US, and Cambodia Join Forces Against Southeast Asian Scam Compounds

[Financial News] Police organizations from nine Asia-Pacific countries, including Korea, Cambodia, and the United States, are joining forces to eradicate criminal compounds operating primarily in Southeast Asia.
The Korean National Police Agency held an inauguration ceremony for the 'International Cooperation Consultative Body' to jointly respond to transnational scam compounds at Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd.
Participating in the consultative body are Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, as well as international police organizations such as INTERPOL and ASEANAPOL.
This marks the first time that a Korea-led joint consultative body has been established for the international community to collectively respond to transnational criminal compounds.
The consultative body aims to build a practical cooperation system to address emerging cross-border crimes such as telecommunications financial fraud (voice phishing), cyber fraud, and virtual asset crimes, which are spreading globally.
Recently, scam compounds operating mainly in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, have escalated into issues involving organized crime, illegal detention, and human trafficking, raising serious human rights concerns.
The Korean National Police Agency plans to conduct joint transnational operations through the consultative body. Efforts will focus on strengthening information sharing about scam compounds, establishing real-time response systems among countries, and enhancing joint investigations.
Next month, Seoul will host an operational meeting involving INTERPOL, ASEANAPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and key partner countries.
An INTERPOL official stated at the launch event, "We will take the lead in coordinating participating agencies and respond vigorously to scam crimes worldwide."
The US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced plans to seek effective strategies with law enforcement agencies from various countries to ensure the success of joint transnational operations.
The Korean National Police Agency intends to expand the number of participating countries in the consultative body in the future.
Lee Jun-hyung, Director of International Cooperation at the Korean National Police Agency, emphasized, "Scam compounds are not merely financial fraud; they are international crimes that combine human trafficking, organized crime, and cybercrime." He added that the Korean police aim to establish a new model for international security cooperation through this consultative body.
unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter