Seventy-three South Korean nationals detained in Cambodia over alleged involvement in scam crimes will be forcibly returned home for investigation, announced Cheong Wa Dae. A chartered flight is scheduled to depart from Incheon International Airport at 8:45 p.m. and return at 9:10 a.m. on Friday, carrying the suspects. The detainees are accused of swindling 486.7 billion won ($331.5 million) from 869 South Korean victims, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
This repatriation marks the largest of its kind, following a joint investigation by South Korean and Cambodian authorities, along with the National Intelligence Service. The suspects were apprehended in Cambodia by a joint investigation team that raided seven scam compounds in December. Arrest warrants have been issued for all suspects, who will face investigative and judicial procedures upon their return.
The detained individuals are reportedly part of organized scam syndicates that conducted fraudulent romance and investment schemes, extorting money from family members of individuals held at scam centers in Cambodia. Some suspects allegedly utilized deepfake technology to deceive victims and underwent plastic surgery to avoid detection by law enforcement. Earlier in January, a South Korean investigation team, in collaboration with local authorities, arrested 26 individuals involved in scam crimes related to sexual exploitation in Cambodia.
