The intergovernmental ‘Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force’ achieved a significant result by apprehending 26 members of a scam crime organization in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who had been impersonating national institutions and committing sexual exploitation crimes against women since February last year.
The arrested crime organization, based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, deceived victims into believing they were involved in crimes by impersonating prosecutors and financial regulators, confining them in accommodations to cut off external contact, and extorting approximately 26.7 billion KRW from 165 South Korean nationals under the pretext of asset investigation.
Particularly, the criminals continuously deceived numerous female victims residing in South Korea, rendering them unable to resist, and then extorted money and forced them to create or send sexually exploitative videos and photos. This evolution of scam crimes shows how they not only steal valuable assets but also exploit psychological weaknesses to destroy victims’ lives.
The recent arrests were achieved through the cooperation of the Cambodian ‘Korea Task Force’ and the National Intelligence Service, who identified the locations of the organization’s offices and accommodations and conducted a raid on January 5th. The government plans to promptly block the distribution of sexually exploitative videos, thoroughly investigate all criminal allegations, and swiftly extradite and punish the criminals. Additionally, they will collaborate with relevant agencies to provide practical support and preventive measures for the female victims. The government will continue to respond strictly to transnational crimes, including digital sex crimes, as directed by President Lee Jae-myung, ensuring that those who harm South Korean citizens face severe consequences.