The first wave of a crackdown on illegal gambling in Cambodia uncovered more than 1,700 such operations, Prime Minister Hun Sen disclosed last month. More than 1,000 illegal gambling dens were identified in the capital city of Phnom Penh, and 700 more in Kandal.
The prime minister ordered the renewed crackdown on September 17 and said government officials will continue their efforts to close down the sites. According to the Khmer Times, he also suggested that enforcement has been lax in the past.
“The problem is whether authorities want to crack down on illegal gambling or not,” he said. “I do not hesitate with the removal of the capital-provincial governors, district governors, Khans, municipalities or any level of police officers who are found to be irresponsible.”
The crackdown followed a dramatic rise in reports of human trafficking and kidnapping linked to the country’s casino industry, reported Inside Asian Gaming.
“I would like to issue a very strict order, please take decisive and timely action,” he said. “I would like to inform you that it is no longer possible to tolerate anarchic situations in the casino. We must be strict.”
