Key Facts
• 29 Japanese nationals detained in Cambodia for involvement in fraud schemes.
• Largest-ever transfer operation by Japanese police, using a chartered flight.
• Detention occurred in Poipet, a border town near Thailand.
• Suspects, aged 10s to 50s, allegedly impersonated police in scam calls.
• Evidence seized included police uniforms, computers, and smartphones.
• Operation initiated after a tip-off from a 21-year-old Japanese man.
• The man was recruited via a job site and transported to Cambodia via Thailand.
• Approximately 80 Aichi Prefectural Police officers were dispatched to Cambodia.
• Transfer to Japan began on August 20, 2025, with arrests planned upon arrival.
• This marks the largest crackdown on overseas fraud targeting Japan.
Summary
In a historic operation, Japanese police have initiated the transfer of 29 nationals detained in Cambodia for their alleged involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme. The suspects, aged between their teens and 50s, were apprehended in Poipet, a town near the Thai border, where they reportedly impersonated police officers to conduct scam calls targeting Japan. Evidence, including police uniforms and electronic devices, was seized from the site. The operation was triggered by a tip-off from a 21-year-old Japanese man who had been recruited through a job site and transported to Cambodia. Approximately 80 officers from the Aichi Prefectural Police were deployed to oversee the transfer, which utilized a chartered flight. The suspects are expected to face charges of attempted fraud upon their arrival in Japan. This operation represents the largest-ever crackdown on overseas fraud targeting Japanese citizens.
