Cambodia Arrests Businessman Tied to Notorious Scam Compound

For many years, Kuong Li stood as a symbol of the booming cybercrime economy in Cambodia. A powerful businessman with interests spanning casinos, hotels, real estate and construction, Li moved comfortably among political elites.

Now, three years after being publicly named in a major BBC investigation, he is sitting in a jail cell.

Cambodia Takes Down Kuong Li For Scam Operation

Cambodian authorities arrested the 50-year-old last week and charged him with illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime and money laundering related to alleged offenses dating back to 2019. A Phnom Penh court has ordered Li to remain in custody while proceedings continue.

Li was prominently featured in the 2023 BBC Eye documentary The Pig Butchering Romance Scam, which examined alleged human trafficking and large-scale online fraud operations operating out of Cambodia’s coastal city of Sihanoukville. The investigation centered on the Huang Le compound, a walled complex identified by the BBC as being under Li’s ownership.

The documentary followed the harrowing account of “Didi,” a Chinese national who said he was trafficked into Cambodia after being promised a legitimate job. Instead, he was allegedly forced to work overnight shifts scamming victims in Europe and the United States, forbidden from leaving the compound and subjected to violence and intimidation. Secretly recorded footage from inside the complex was shared with the BBC and anti-scam investigators before Didi eventually escaped and returned to China.

Another victim featured in the investigation, Mi Lijun, reportedly became gravely ill while being held at the compound. He was later found abandoned on a highway and died shortly after from organ failure.

When the documentary aired, Cambodian authorities dismissed the allegations against Li as “groundless,” insisting that inspections found no evidence of forced labor or abuse. Li himself denied wrongdoing and, later that year, was even promoted to a higher royal title.

That makes his arrest all the more notable.

A Possible Turning Point in Cambodia’s Fight Against Cybercrime

Cambodia has faced mounting international pressure over its role as a global hub for online scams, money laundering and transnational fraud, industries that some estimates say account for as much as 60% of the country’s formal GDP. Authorities claim progress is being made, citing hundreds of arrests and dozens of major cases handled by courts over the past year.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged to prioritize the fight against cybercrime. Whether Kuong Li’s case represents a genuine turning point or a rare exception remains to be seen. But after years of denial, his detention signals that even the most well-connected figures may no longer be untouchable.

Alex Warren

Visit Profile

Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.