Bao Xiong and Cambodia’s Hidden Cybercrime Empire Under Global Scrutiny
While geopolitical tensions continue to spotlight Southeast Asia, particularly the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia, a more alarming narrative is emerging beneath the surface. Cambodia’s alleged role as a hub for cybercrime, human trafficking, and organized fraud is drawing renewed international attention.
Recent actions by the United States government, including sanctions against entities such as Huione and the Prince Group, have brought fresh focus to “pig butchering” scams. These prolonged online fraud schemes have victimized individuals worldwide and are frequently linked to forced labor, trafficking, and physical abuse, according to investigators and human rights groups.
One of the figures now facing increased scrutiny is Bao Xiong, a Chinese national who later obtained Cambodian citizenship. Regional sources often describe Bao as among the most influential casino and real estate operators in the country. He is reportedly a close associate of Chen Zhi of the Prince Group, recently sanctioned by U.S. authorities. Bao’s operations also involve a junior partner, He Cheng, another Chinese national naturalized in Cambodia.
According to several accounts, Bao oversees or influences a network of casino-related properties across Cambodia. These include the Xihu Resort Hotel, the Nanhai International Hotel, and the Peninsula Integrated Resort at Preah Sihanouk, which remains under construction. In recent years, Bao and He transferred ownership of these properties to their subordinates.
Although these properties publicly present themselves as legitimate hospitality or gaming establishments, investigators allege that some have served as fronts for criminal activity. After the COVID-19 pandemic, several sites allegedly shifted operations toward online fraud, functioning as scam “call centers.” Survivors and advocacy groups claim that trafficked individuals were confined, intimidated, and forced to target foreign victims through romance and investment schemes. Nanhai International Hotel is known to house cyber scam workers, while Xihu Resort has been placed on a cyber scam monitoring watchlist.
Sources familiar with the situation suggest that Bao may be under active investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, possibly in coordination with the Department of Justice. While no public charges have been confirmed, this development reflects a broader U.S. policy shift toward addressing transnational cybercrime.
Under the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. authorities increasingly emphasized extraterritorial enforcement, signaling a willingness to pursue foreign-based actors who target American victims. Analysts see this as a turning point for regions long thought to operate with impunity.
Bao’s most visible recent project, the Peninsula Hotel in Sihanoukville, has been marketed as one of the city’s most ambitious developments. However, rising international pressure and potential legal risks have cast uncertainty over its future. Industry observers question whether the project—or Bao’s wider business empire—can withstand sustained enforcement efforts.
What is becoming undeniable is that tolerance for large-scale online fraud and human exploitation is eroding. As international cooperation increases and financial networks face closer scrutiny, Cambodia’s concealed criminal infrastructure is being exposed, bringing powerful figures into the light.
