Amnesty report links Cambodian military and police to five security firms guarding scam compounds

Key points

• Amnesty International’s report, 'Official Business,' is based on 151 survivor interviews, visits to 82 compounds, and analysis of over 25,000 social media videos from guard accounts.
• The report identifies five security companies—Leap Somnang, Security Response, ZD Security, Dara Security, and Best Security—providing services to at least 23 scam compounds across ten provinces.
• Leap Somnang Security is alleged to have the largest footprint, linked to 15 compounds, and is believed to be controlled by Ban Sophat, a colonel in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
• Survivors described guards using electric shock batons, firearms, and 'dark rooms' to enforce confinement, torture, and rape, with some guards standing guard during sexual assaults.
• The Cambodian government responded by stating it has disciplined 77 police officers and prosecuted six guards, but Amnesty argues these measures do not dismantle the underlying system of state-enabled exploitation.

Background

This report follows Cambodia’s massive crackdown on scam operations in July 2025, where authorities claimed to have shut down hundreds of centers. Previous Amnesty reports in 2025 and 2026 highlighted failures in victim identification and perpetrator accountability. The current findings build on earlier concerns about the integration of scam networks into Cambodia’s political and economic structures, particularly following the 2024 border conflict with Thailand.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and The Independent emphasize the direct link between state security forces and the abuse of trafficked workers, highlighting the use of electric batons and firearms. The Diplomat frames the issue as a credibility crisis for Cambodia, noting that while foreign scammers have been arrested, local officials and business figures remain protected. Amnesty International focuses on the structural role of private security companies in enabling slavery, arguing that without these guards, the industry could not function. The Cambodian government, via its interior ministry, defends its actions by citing the discipline of 77 officers and the prosecution of 3,477 suspects, claiming a 'no tolerance' policy, while Ban Sophat denies ownership of Leap Somnang, stating he served only as an adviser.

Why it matters

The report exposes a critical gap between Cambodia’s public crackdown on scam compounds and the continued protection of the industry by state actors. It highlights how private security firms, linked to military and political elites, sustain a billion-dollar criminal ecosystem that causes global harm through fraud and human trafficking. The findings challenge the narrative that the industry is 'dormant' and call for international scrutiny of Cambodia’s legal and economic reputation.

What to watch

Amnesty International has called for immediate investigations into the five named security companies and their owners, as well as the military and police officials linked to the compounds. The organization has presented its findings to Cambodian authorities and awaits a response from Leap Somnang. International pressure is expected to increase as the report details the ongoing infrastructure of impunity, potentially affecting foreign investment and diplomatic relations with Cambodia.