Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Sihanoukville Provincial Gendarmerie of Cambodia recently cracked a major criminal case involving illegal detention, transnational human trafficking, extortion, and drug offenses, arresting six Chinese suspects and safely rescuing one Chinese female victim.
The operation was high-level and meticulously planned, directly commanded by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the National Gendarmerie, Sao Sokha, the Governor of Sihanoukville Province, Mon Sina, and the Commander of the Provincial Gendarmerie, Heng Van Thie, ensuring precision and efficiency.
According to the Provincial Gendarmerie, police had received prior warnings: between April 29 and May 6, multiple cases of illegal detention and extortion occurred in Sihanoukville and surrounding areas, causing a negative social impact. On the morning of May 6, police received an urgent report from a friend of a victim, stating that their relative had been kidnapped and extorted. Upon receiving the report, police swiftly launched an investigation, identifying the targets. In their first operation, they apprehended three suspects (including two women) in an apartment in Sihanoukville, seizing a Maybach sedan involved in the case.
Subsequently, following leads, police raided a residential area in Kampong Som, successfully rescuing the illegally detained Chinese female victim. They also apprehended three other male suspects, seizing drugs and related tools used in the crimes.
Further investigation revealed details of the case: the victim was lured from Malaysia to Cambodia under false pretenses by the criminal gang, and upon arrival, was illegally detained by those who picked her up. The suspects forcibly transferred nearly 300,000 RMB from her bank account, forced her to use drugs during her captivity, and sexually assaulted her. After draining the victim's funds, the gang contacted another criminal organization, planning to resell her for $50,000.
Police further disclosed that the criminal gang operated in a covert and extremely dangerous manner, specifically targeting women. Victims, after being extorted, were not only denied release but were also resold to other criminal dens. To gain their freedom, they were often forced to participate in crimes, requiring them to lure more women into Cambodia to "pay off debts," forming a vicious criminal chain.
Currently, six suspects have been transferred to judicial authorities, and the case is under further investigation. Police will continue to investigate whether there are any upstream or downstream criminal networks. Police also remind overseas citizens to be vigilant and not to easily believe false promises of "high-paying jobs" or "quick riches" from strangers to avoid falling into criminal traps; in case of emergency, they should contact local police and the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Cambodia for assistance. (End)
