CAMBODIAN police have warned of further raids against Hong Kong-run syndicates based in Phnom Penh which smuggle Chinese people to the West.
Cambodia's Interpol chief General Skadavy Ly Roun said several raids could take place over the next few weeks after evidence from a string of informers.
'We have the authority from the highest levels to stamp out the smuggling of illegal immigrants and we are building up a great deal of evidence to that end,' said General Skadavy, who is also a special adviser to Co-Interior Minister Sar Kheng. 'We can expect to see many more raids over the next few weeks.' General Skadavy feared several syndicates had links to Hong Kong triads that had now emerged among Phnom Penh's flourishing ethnic Chinese business community. 'They must be told we will not accept this. My two Prime Ministers [Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh] are keen to ensure we allow only legitimate businesses to prosper,' he said.
'We are very worried about triad activity and we must work to keep them out.' His comments followed the arrests of two Hong Kong men in a Christmas Day raid on their Phnom Penh guesthouse.
Police said they found 83 Chinese illegal immigrants, 26 false passports, forging equipment and a pistol.
American diplomats in Bangkok believe the two men, Chan Hak-so and Chan Yui-chun, were part of a wide network of smugglers and forgers who had seized on Phnom Penh as a cheap base to move Chinese to the West via Vietnam.