AKP Phnom Penh, April 29, 2026 --

Cambodian and South Korean police authorities have agreed to deepen cooperation against transnational crime, including online scams, drug offences, and illegal gambling, following a bilateral police summit held in Seoul on Wednesday.

The meeting brought together Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jae Seong of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) and Commissioner General Sar Theth of the Cambodian National Police (CNP).

According to a joint press release issued after the meeting, both sides agreed to expand the operational scope of the Cambodia-Korea Joint Task Force for Korean Citizens (CKJTFK), which was originally established to combat online scam operations and crimes targeting South Korean nationals in Cambodia.

Under the expanded mandate, the task force will now also address drug-related crimes and illegal gambling, reflecting growing concerns over criminal syndicates operating across Southeast Asia.

Police leaders from both countries said transnational crime networks, including groups linked to scam compounds, pose a serious global threat and require closer international coordination.

The CKJTFK was launched following an agreement reached during a summit last October, with Korean officers joining Cambodian counterparts in December.

Authorities said the joint unit has already produced significant results. Between December 2025 and March 2026, the task force arrested 166 major suspects, including South Korean fugitives hiding in Cambodia, and rescued five South Korean nationals from confinement.

Officials described the results as evidence of the effectiveness of cross-border law enforcement cooperation in protecting foreign nationals and disrupting criminal networks.

Beyond joint operations, South Korea also pledged continued support to strengthen Cambodia’s policing capabilities through official development assistance projects.

The KNPA, working with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is continuing an 18 billion won assistance programme for Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior to improve crime scene investigation and forensic science capacity.

Part of the funding will be directed to the CNP to help address increasingly sophisticated transnational crimes, officials said.

Park Jun Sung, Acting Director General of KNPA’s International Cooperation Bureau, said the summit marked an important milestone in reinforcing trust between the two police agencies and building a united front against cross-border crime.

He added that enhanced management of the joint task force and upgraded policing assistance programmes would help protect citizens of both countries and contribute to regional security in Asia.

By C. Nika