The Korean National Police Agency said on the 5th that it had arrested 28 people, including Koreans, who were committing scam crimes in Cambodia and Thailand in cooperation with local police and others.
This outcome is the first case of Breaking Chains, a global joint operation led by Korean police. Sixteen countries, including the United States, China, Japan, Cambodia and Thailand, and three international organizations—the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the ASEAN National Police (ASEANAPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)—are taking part in the operation.
At about 3 p.m. on the 4th (local time), police arrested the ringleader and 15 members of a criminal group of Korean nationality in Poipet, Cambodia. They are accused of defrauding a total of 2.589 billion won from 27 victims by charging sign-up fees under the pretense of matching women.
The operation began when, through a bilateral meeting with senior Cambodian police officers, Korean police requested an arrest operation during a global joint operation conference held in Seoul for 12 days starting on the 11th of last month. The two countries then formed a Cambodia Korea task force and prepared for the arrests. In the process, based on key intelligence provided by the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency's mobile investigation unit, the Cambodia Korea task force drew up an operational plan with local law enforcement.
On the 4th, police also raided an office in Bangkok with Thai police and arrested 13 members of a voice phishing ring based in Thailand. It was reported that the suspects were continuing their crimes even as investigators stormed the scene. Four of those arrested carried Chinese national ID cards, but there is a possibility the IDs are fake, and authorities are identifying the individuals.
Since September, they are suspected of impersonating investigative authorities and defrauding victims of about 100 million won. They also face allegations of demanding nude videos for body searches related to the issuance of arrest warrants while posing as investigators to female victims.
Since October, the Korean National Police Agency has been collecting leads to track down the members with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Unit. The two countries then drew up a joint arrest plan through Breaking Chains.
Lee Jae-young, Director General for International Cooperation at the Korean National Police Agency, said, "Based on Breaking Chains, field investigators have created an excellent case of international cooperation responding to transnational crime," and added, "We will take the lead in eradicating international crime through close cooperation between dispatched police personnel, such as the Korea task force, and overseas law enforcement agencies."