A raid yesterday on Poipet’s Golden Crown Casino, owned by ruling party Senator Kok An, resulted in the arrest of 118 Chinese nationals, though 80 were later released, according to a local police official.

The raid was conducted jointly with Chinese Interpol as part of a crackdown on a ring of suspected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) scammers in the Banteay Meanchey town.

Poipet police chief Um Sophal said those arrested were suspected by Chinese authorities of using VoIP technology to engage in “online kidnapping”, or extortion.

Sophal said mobile phones and laptops were seized as evidence during yesterday’s raid.

Of the 118 originally arrested, 80 were determined by fingerprint technology not to be wanted by the Chinese authorities, Sophal said.

The remaining 38 were transferred to the National Police Station, pending their transfer to Chinese authorities.

Last November, 170 Chinese were arrested in Preah Sihanouk province in a similar VoIP-related crackdown, and another 22 in Svay Rieng province in August.