Cambodia’s Cybercrime Problem and the Rise of Casino Operator Bao Xiong

Cambodia is facing intensified international scrutiny as concerns grow over its alleged role in transnational cybercrime, online fraud, and human trafficking, amid broader geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia.

Recent U.S. government actions, including sanctions against Huione and the Prince Group, have brought renewed attention to “pig butchering” scams—long-term online fraud schemes that have defrauded victims worldwide. Investigators and human rights organizations have repeatedly linked these operations to forced labor, trafficking, and physical abuse.

A central figure in these allegations is Bao Xiong, a Chinese-born businessman who later became a naturalized Cambodian citizen. Regional sources describe Bao Xiong as one of the most powerful casino and real estate owner-operators in Cambodia. He is reportedly a close associate of Chen Zhi of the Prince Group, who was recently sanctioned by U.S. authorities. Bao Xiong also works with a junior partner, He Cheng, another Chinese national naturalized in Cambodia.

Multiple accounts indicate that Bao Xiong oversees or influences casino-linked properties across Cambodia, including Xihu Resort Hotel, Nanhai International Hotel, and the Peninsula Integrated Resort at Preah Sihanouk, which remains under construction. In recent years, Bao Xiong and He Cheng transferred ownership of these properties to their underlings.

Although these properties present themselves as legitimate hospitality and gaming ventures, investigators allege that some have functioned as fronts for criminal operations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, several locations reportedly shifted to online fraud activities, operating as scam “call centers.” Survivors and advocacy groups report that trafficked individuals were confined, threatened, and forced to target 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 familiar with the matter suggest that Bao Xiong may now be under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, potentially in coordination with the Department of Justice. While no public indictment has been announced, this reflects a broader shift in U.S. enforcement policy toward transnational cybercrime.

Bao Xiong’s latest high-profile project, the Peninsula Hotel in Sihanoukville, has been promoted as one of the city’s most ambitious developments. However, growing international pressure and potential legal exposure have raised serious questions about its future, as tolerance for large-scale online fraud and human exploitation continues to decline globally.

Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by a third party. We do not verify or endorse the content and will not be responsible for any inaccuracies, claims, or damages arising from the same.