Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh Facilitates the Gradual Repatriation of 2,528 Indonesian Citizens from Cambodia

JAKARTA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Phnom Penh has so far received reports from Indonesian Citizens (WNI) of a former online fraud syndicate in Cambodia who asked for facilitation of their return to Indonesia. Since the spike occurred on January 16 to March 26, 2026, the total number of WNI who have reported reached 6,308 people.

"Of this number, in the period from January 30 to March 26, 2026, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has facilitated the gradual return of 2,528 Indonesian citizens to Indonesia," the Indonesian Embassy wrote in a written statement, Friday (27/3).

In order to accelerate the repatriation process, the Indonesian Embassy continues to coordinate closely with the Cambodian Government to obtain the removal of the overstay fine. As of March 26, 2016, the Cambodian Government has granted the removal of the overstay fine for 4,361 Indonesian citizens. In addition, the Indonesian Embassy has also issued a Provisional Passport Travel Document (SPLP) for 2,346 Indonesian citizens who do not have travel documents.

With the support of the Cambodian Government, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh facilitated temporary shelter for Indonesian citizens who were financially limited while waiting for the repatriation process. Currently, around 300 Indonesian citizens are still in temporary shelters.

The surge in the arrival of Indonesian citizens who asked for direct assistance to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh occurred in the last two and a half months, in line with the intensification of the Cambodian government's online fraud syndicate eradication operations since mid-January 2026. Until now, the flow of Indonesian citizens to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh is still ongoing.

The Cambodian government targets its territory to be free from online fraud syndicate activities before the Khmer New Year celebrations in mid-April 2026. This target also contributes to the increasing number of Indonesian citizens who leave the network.

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh emphasized its commitment to continue to provide protection to all Indonesian citizens, without excluding the aspect of law enforcement. The Embassy also coordinates with law enforcement agencies in Indonesia to conduct an examination of the former online fraud syndicate, in particular to identify the level of involvement of Indonesian citizens in illegal activities.