Seven Officials Stripped of Rank in Cambodia Amid Trafficking Allegations

Photo shows Interior Minister Sar Sokha. Photo from Interior Ministry

    By: Teng Yalirozy
    January 20, 2026, 6:45 PM
    00:00 / 03:36

 

“The Cambodian scam industry generates billions of dollars annually and could not have operated on this scale without the protection or complicity of individuals far more powerful than a deputy director general of immigration,” 

 

PHNOM PENH — In a rare and sweeping disciplinary move, seven senior public and police officials have been stripped of their posts and ranks within just two days, amid allegations of misconduct and involvement in human trafficking linked to cross-border crime.

Among those removed is Lt. Gen. Sok Ly Huot, a three-star general who served as deputy director general of the Interior Ministry’s General Department of Immigration. A sub-decree dated January 8 and circulated on January 19 demoted him to a standard official position.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said Sok Ly Huot was dismissed due to “personal issues” that affected his job performance and the overall quality of the department, declining to provide further details.

At the same time, six police and provincial officials based at the Stung Treng Provincial Police Headquarters were also demoted for facilitating the illegal entry of Lao nationals into Cambodia through the Cambodia–Laos border, Sokhak said.

According to the Interior Ministry, the officials collaborated with four Lao masterminds to traffic people across the border. The four Lao suspects have since been deported to Laos to face prosecution, while the Cambodian officials involved are facing internal disciplinary action.

Those disciplined include Brig. Gen. Chan Sopha, who was removed from his position as deputy commissioner of the Border Police; Lt. Col. Chan Sothea, whose role as deputy commander of Border Protection Police Unit 701 was suspended; and Maj. Tep Nithy, who was removed as deputy commander of the same unit and demoted one rank to captain.

Capt. Than Vicheth was dismissed from his post as deputy director of health for Border Protection Police Unit 701 and demoted to first lieutenant. Lt. Sao Sopheap was removed as deputy chief of the Kork Na Ong Border Protection Police Station and demoted to second lieutenant, while Second Lt. Chan Sopheak was demoted to warrant officer.

“Continued enforcement of the law will hold officials accountable for abusing their positions for personal gain, which constitutes a criminal offense,” Sokhak said. “Legal action will also be taken against civilians who violate the law and their duties.”

Cross-Border Crime Intensifies, Skepticism Persists

Despite the high-profile dismissals, some analysts remain skeptical about the government’s commitment to dismantling entrenched criminal networks.

Geopolitical analyst and professor Seng Vanly described Sok Ly Huot’s removal as “strategic scapegoating” rather than a genuine pursuit of accountability, arguing that the move may be intended to shield more powerful figures from growing international pressure.

He noted that the dismissal, officially attributed to disciplinary reasons, coincided with the arrest of tycoon Chen Zhi, suggesting Sok Ly Huot may have been sacrificed to appease foreign governments, including China and the United States, amid mounting sanctions and extradition demands.

“The Cambodian scam industry generates billions of dollars annually and could not have operated on this scale without the protection or complicity of individuals far more powerful than a deputy director general of immigration,” Vanly said.

He cited reports by the United Nations and Amnesty International that have linked senior political advisors and influential business figures to scam operations, including Ly Yong Phat, who has been sanctioned by the United States for alleged involvement in scam compounds.

According to Vanly, the dismissal of mid- to high-level officials serves largely as a symbolic display of accountability, while the patronage networks that enable and profit from these operations remain intact.

“The pattern of selective enforcement in Cambodia is well established,” he said. “Officials who become politically inconvenient or too visible are removed, while others with equal or greater involvement continue to hold power.”

This approach, he argued, allows authorities to claim progress in combating online scams while preserving the economic benefits of the illicit industry. Without addressing high-level protections and influential families tied to these networks, actions such as Sok Ly Huot’s removal risk being seen by the international community as tactical gestures rather than meaningful reform.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has repeatedly stated that enforcement efforts against scam operators will extend to officials who aid criminal networks. While critics say major crackdowns often follow external pressure, the government insists it is committed to dismantling online scam operations and strengthening cooperation with international partners.

Following recent directives from Hun Manet, authorities have launched a nationwide campaign targeting technology-based fraud, with multi-agency teams ordered to take strict legal action against all individuals involved, without exception.

Last week, former tycoon Ly Kuong, a land investor and casino owner, was detained at Phnom Penh Police Judicial Prison, a detention facility run by the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, in connection with alleged technology fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering.

Investigators say the case involves non-transparent investments used to exploit assets, mislead authorities, traffic people, and launder money, with casinos and hotels allegedly operating as hubs for online fraud since 2019.