Questions persist over missing billions and elite involvement in Cambodian scam compounds

Yet questions remain over where the missing billions have gone – as well as the role of the country’s elite, who for many years denied the problem existed at all on Cambodian soil.

Scam compounds took over declining mega-casinos during the pandemic. As borders closed, gamblers were replaced with scam workers: many tricked, trafficked and forced to commit cyber fraud for Chinese criminal networks.

Under intense pressure from Beijing and Washington, Cambodia last year took belated action.