ASEAN pushes integrated cross-border action to dismantle online scam networks
ASEAN is urging faster coordination of its existing tools after thousands of Indonesians sought help in Cambodia, and Indonesia and Cambodia have set up an "Indonesia Desk" to link investigations and financial tracing.
Thousands of Indonesians contacted their embassy in Phnom Penh this year seeking repatriation after involvement in online scam operations, and hundreds have already been returned. While ASEAN’s 2025 cybercrime declaration provides mechanisms for mutual legal assistance and asset freezing, experts argue that information must be quickly contextualised and turned into actionable steps across borders. A June-July workshop in Semarang equipped more than 60 officials with skills in blockchain, digital forensics and international cooperation.
Recognising the need for a seamless workflow, Indonesia and Cambodia established an Indonesia Desk at the Cambodian National Police headquarters, pooling resources from ministries, the Attorney General’s Office, immigration, the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center. The desk will facilitate rapid evidence sharing, financial tracing and coordinated raids, with the upcoming International Conference on Combating Online Scams slated to evaluate the model’s effectiveness.
Why it matters
Coordinated cross-border action is essential to stop scam networks that move money and victims across ASEAN quickly.
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