Cambodian Businessman Linked to Scams Arrested

Cambodian authorities have arrested Kuong Li, a 50-year-old businessman featured in a 2023 BBC Eye investigation into alleged online scam operations. He faces charges including illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering for offenses allegedly committed since 2019. A Phnom Penh court ordered his pre-trial detention on January 15, 2026.

Kuong Li was identified as the owner of the Huang Le compound in Sihanoukville, a location central to the BBC's documentary, 'The Pig Butchering Romance Scam'. The investigation highlighted allegations of human trafficking and forced labor within such compounds, with one victim describing being forced to work from 8 PM to 8 AM, targeting victims in Europe and the US.

Despite Cambodian authorities initially dismissing the allegations as "groundless" in April 2023, the ongoing crackdown signals a shift. Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Manet, has declared "fighting tech-savvy crimes" a priority. Courts handled 37 major cases between 2025 and mid-January 2026, convicting 172 individuals. This action follows the extradition of Chinese businessman Chen Zhi earlier in 2026 for allegedly masterminding a vast scam network.

The United Nations estimates hundreds of thousands have been trafficked to Southeast Asia for forced labor in scam operations. Neighboring countries like Thailand and Myanmar are also intensifying crackdowns on scam centers, money laundering, and transnational criminal networks operating in the region.