Police working with Ministry of Post and Telecommunications officials yesterday arrested more than 20 South Korean nationals allegedly running an illegal telecom operation, an officer said yesterday, though an embassy representative said the bust related to online gambling.

Y Sokkhy, director of the Interior Ministry’s anti-terrorism department, said 23 men were arrested just after 11am at a rental house in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district.

“All were arrested for hiding there using a mobile system to commit criminal acts oversees,” Sokkhy said yesterday afternoon. “Some are at the anti-terrorism department and some are being transported there.”

A spokeswoman for the South Korean Embassy, however, said that only 22 Korean nationals were arrested in relation to online gambling yesterday.

She said the group was being provided consular assistance.Representatives from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications were unreachable yesterday.

A statement on the ministry’s website said the operation was led by ministry official Ou Borath and involved raids on two properties.