BBC Investigates Seized Cambodian Scam Compound with Fake Police Stations
The BBC has gained access to the Royal Hill casino in O Smach, Cambodia, a massive scam compound seized by Thai forces following a brief border conflict in December. The facility, previously shrouded in secrecy, features elaborate replicas of foreign police stations and banks from Australia, China, Brazil, and Vietnam. Thousands of workers were held under harsh conditions to defraud victims globally through online fraud schemes after online gambling was banned in 2019. The site was bombed by the Thai air force, allegedly due to drone launches, leaving it empty except for occupying soldiers. While the owner of the neighboring O Smach Casino is a sanctioned tycoon, Royal Hill's owner, Lim Heng, remains less known despite his elite status. The Thai military used this discovery to highlight the scale of the scam industry and justify their cross-border operations.
Wire timeline
BBC Investigates Seized Cambodian Scam Compound with Fake Police Stations
The BBC has gained access to the Royal Hill casino in O Smach, Cambodia, a massive scam compound seized by Thai forces following a brief border conflict in December. The facility, previously shrouded in secrecy, features elaborate replicas of foreign police stations and banks from Australia, China, Brazil, and Vietnam. Thousands of workers were held under harsh conditions to defraud victims globally through online fraud schemes after online gambling was banned in 2019. The site was bombed by the Thai air force, allegedly due to drone launches, leaving it empty except for occupying soldiers. While the owner of the neighboring O Smach Casino is a sanctioned tycoon, Royal Hill's owner, Lim Heng, remains less known despite his elite status. The Thai military used this discovery to highlight the scale of the scam industry and justify their cross-border operations.
BBC News