Police Rescue Korean Detained in Cambodian Scam Compound... 51 Members of Criminal Organization Arrested

[Financial News] The Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans, composed of Korean and Cambodian police, rescued a Korean national who had been detained in a scam compound in the Kingdom of Cambodia and simultaneously arrested dozens of Korean members participating in scam crimes at the site.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on the 10th that the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans, in cooperation with local police, rescued a Korean man in his 20s who was being held in a scam compound and arrested 51 suspects affiliated with the criminal organization.
This operation was a large-scale joint rescue and arrest mission involving both Korean and Cambodian police officers from the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans at the scene. The KNPA explained that the entire process of international cooperation—from protecting the detained Korean national to apprehending the criminal organization—was carried out swiftly and seamlessly between the two countries.
On the 4th, the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans confirmed through a 112 emergency call and other means that a Korean citizen was being detained and tortured. After identifying the location, Korean and Cambodian police invoked the recently agreed-upon rapid response protocol, submitting an 'Emergency Rescue Request Form' to request immediate action from the Cambodian police.
The Emergency Rescue Request Form is a procedure established between the two countries to address difficulties faced by Korean nationals in the Kingdom of Cambodia, such as requests for facial photos or video submissions when reporting to the police. In urgent situations, the form allows police to respond based solely on location and personal information.
Korean police officers within the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans identified the exact location of the detention through comprehensive intelligence gathering, including the victim’s statement. They also discovered that over 50 Koreans at the site were involved in scam operations. To prevent further harm and dismantle the criminal group, the task force, KNPA, and Cambodian police developed a joint operation plan.
Taking into account the size and significance of the criminal organization, both countries’ police identified possible escape routes around the scam compound through surveillance and reconnaissance. On the eve of the operation, Korean and Cambodian officers from the task force were deployed to Sihanoukville, the operation site, to confirm entry routes and finalize detailed arrest strategies over the course of about a week.
On the day of the operation, four Korean police officers from the Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans, nine Cambodian police officers, over 100 local police including special forces, and agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) surrounded the building and entered simultaneously. As a result, one detained Korean was rescued and 51 Korean suspects involved in ongoing scam activities were apprehended.
The police plan to continue working closely with the Kingdom of Cambodia to ensure further crackdowns on scam compounds and to expedite the repatriation of those involved.
Lee Jaeyoung, Director of International Cooperation at the KNPA, stated, “This operation is an exemplary case of international cooperation, where both countries’ police leveraged their accumulated network to simultaneously protect overseas nationals and apprehend a criminal organization. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies abroad, including the Kingdom of Cambodia, to lead the fight against international organized crimes such as online scams and voice phishing.”

welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter