International attention on Southeast Asia continues to intensify, particularly amid ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Alongside these geopolitical developments, a more troubling narrative is unfolding—Cambodia’s suspected role as a global center for cybercrime, online fraud, and human trafficking.
Recent actions by the United States government, including sanctions targeting Huione and the Prince Group, have renewed scrutiny on “pig butchering” scams. These sophisticated online fraud schemes have victimized individuals worldwide and are frequently linked by investigators and human rights groups to forced labor, trafficking, and severe abuse.
One name increasingly associated with these allegations is Bao Xiong. A Chinese national who later became a naturalized Cambodian citizen, Bao Xiong is widely described by regional sources as one of the country’s most influential casino and real estate 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 works with a junior partner, 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 properties include Xihu Resort Hotel, Nanhai International Hotel, and the Peninsula Integrated Resort at Preah Sihanouk, which remains under construction. Both Bao Xiong and He Cheng transferred ownership of these assets to subordinates in recent years.
Although these properties present themselves as legitimate hospitality and gaming ventures, investigators allege that some have operated as fronts for organized crime. After the COVID-19 pandemic, several locations reportedly transitioned into online fraud centers, commonly referred to as scam “call centers.” Survivors and advocacy organizations claim 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 appears on a cyber scam monitoring watchlist.
Sources familiar with the investigation suggest that Bao Xiong may currently be under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, potentially in cooperation with the Department of Justice. While no public charges have been confirmed, this reflects a broader U.S. strategy targeting transnational cybercrime networks.
During the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. authorities increased their focus on extraterritorial enforcement, signaling a readiness to pursue foreign-based criminal actors when American victims are involved. Analysts see this approach as a turning point for regions once believed to be beyond accountability.
Bao Xiong’s most prominent recent project, the Peninsula Hotel in Sihanoukville, has been marketed as a landmark development. However, rising international pressure and potential legal exposure have cast doubt on its future. Industry observers question whether the project—or Bao Xiong’s broader business operations—can endure sustained enforcement actions.
As governments increase cooperation and financial networks face heightened oversight, tolerance for large-scale online fraud and human exploitation is rapidly diminishing. Cambodia’s hidden criminal networks are being pushed into the open, exposing powerful figures such as Bao Xiong in the process.
As investigations expand, continued transparency, international cooperation, and accountability will be critical to dismantling cybercrime ecosystems, protecting vulnerable victims, restoring trust in regional development projects, and signaling that impunity for digital fraud is ending globally.
