Cambodian Businessman Arrested Following BBC's Scandalous Exposé

Wed Jan 21 2026 15:38:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Kuong Li, a prominent Cambodian businessman linked to a notorious scam operation, has been arrested after being featured in a BBC investigation that highlighted human trafficking and fraud in Southeast Asia.

Kuong Li, 50, was arrested in Cambodia after being implicated in an alleged online scam exposure by a BBC documentary. Charged with aggravated fraud, illegal recruitment, and organized crime, he's linked to human trafficking in his Huang Le compound. The Cambodian authorities are intensifying their crackdown on online fraud and related criminal networks.

Cambodian authorities have arrested a prominent businessman featured in a 2023 BBC Eye investigation into alleged online scam operations as part of a wider effort to tackle organized online fraud.

Kuong Li, a 50-year-old Cambodian national, was charged with illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering relating to alleged offenses committed in Cambodia and elsewhere since 2019.

On January 15, a Phnom Penh court ordered him to be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.

Kuong Li was featured in The Pig Butchering Romance Scam, a BBC Eye investigation into allegations of human trafficking and fraud inside scam compounds in Southeast Asia.

The programme, broadcast in March 2023, focused in part on the Huang Le compound, a venue under Kuong Li's ownership in the coastal city of Sihanoukville.

The documentary followed the account of 'Didi', a Chinese man who said he left home after being promised a well-paid job, but was trafficked into Cambodia and forced to work inside the walled compound. He shared secretly recorded footage with the BBC and the Global Anti-Scam Organisation (Gaso).

Didi reported being made to work long hours while witnessing violence against others trying to escape. After his harrowing experiences, he eventually found refuge and returned home.

The BBC's investigations identified Kuong Li as the owner of the Huang Le compound, revealing that he had established a business empire covering real estate, casinos, hotels, and construction companies. Despite previous accolades, including recognition from the Cambodian royal family, the crackdown on online scams has intensified in response to international pressure.

With Li detained, Cambodian authorities are pursuing investigations into broader networks involved in organized online fraud as they aim to combat a rising trend of tech-related crimes. The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Cybercrime reported handling 37 major cases, leading to the conviction of 172 individuals involved in these scams.