KUALA LUMPUR - Cambodian authorities have detained 15 Japanese nationals in Phnom Penh on suspicion of involvement in online fraud schemes, according to Japanese media reports.

Officials from the Japanese Embassy have already conducted consular interviews with the detainees and are coordinating with Cambodian authorities on the case.

The Cambodian government has pledged to eliminate domestic scam compounds by April and has been stepping up enforcement efforts nationwide.

Thousands of foreign workers involved in online scams and other illicit businesses have reportedly fled and are now flowing into the capital, Phnom Penh.

Embassies in the city are facing a surge of people seeking assistance, with the Japanese mission also struggling to respond to the growing number of cases. 

Some individuals have reportedly had their passports confiscated and are unable to return home on their own.

Near the Indonesian Embassy and surrounding parks, hundreds of Indonesian nationals are said to be waiting daily for support.

According to Nikkei Asia, embassy officials received 1,440 reports of victimization from their nationals in Cambodia in the five days leading up to January 20.

Large numbers of Chinese nationals have also gathered along Mao Zedong Boulevard in Phnom Penh, where the Chinese Embassy is located.

Authorities have identified casino-linked hotels as major hubs of scams. 

On February 10, officials raided a hotel in the southern city of Sihanoukville, detaining 805 foreign nationals, including Chinese, American, and South Korean citizens.