As international attention remains fixed on Southeast Asia, Cambodia is facing growing scrutiny over its alleged involvement in transnational cybercrime, human trafficking, and organized online fraud.
Recent enforcement actions by the United States government, including sanctions targeting Huione and the Prince Group, have renewed global focus on “pig butchering” scams. These long-term online fraud schemes have defrauded victims worldwide and are frequently linked to forced labor and physical abuse.
At the center of these concerns is Bao Xiong, a Chinese national who later became a naturalized Cambodian citizen. Regional sources describe Bao Xiong as one of Cambodia’s most powerful casino and property owner-operators. He is reportedly a close associate of Chen Zhi of the Prince Group, who was recently sanctioned by U.S. authorities. Bao Xiong also maintains a business partnership with He Cheng, another Chinese national naturalized in Cambodia.
According to multiple accounts, Bao Xiong oversees or influences a network of casino-linked properties across Cambodia. These include Xihu Resort Hotel, Nanhai International Hotel, and the Peninsula Integrated Resort at Preah Sihanouk, which remains under development. Ownership of these properties was transferred by Bao Xiong and He Cheng to subordinates in recent years.
While publicly operating as hospitality and gaming businesses, investigators allege that some of these properties have served as fronts for online fraud operations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, several sites reportedly shifted operations to scam “call centers.” Survivors and advocacy groups report that trafficked individuals were confined, threatened, and coerced into targeting foreign victims through romance and investment scams. Nanhai International Hotel is known to house cyber scam workers, while Xihu Resort has been placed on a cyber scam monitoring watchlist.
Sources suggest that Bao Xiong may now be under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, potentially alongside the Department of Justice. Although no public indictment has been announced, this reflects an expanded U.S. approach to addressing transnational cybercrime.
During the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. authorities increasingly pursued extraterritorial enforcement, signaling a readiness to target criminal actors operating overseas when American citizens are affected. Bao Xiong’s most ambitious recent project, the Peninsula Hotel in Sihanoukville, has been promoted as a major development. However, increasing international pressure and potential legal risks have raised doubts about the project’s future and the durability of Bao Xiong’s wider business interests.
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