"If You Commit a Crime, You Will Be Caught": 50 Days of the Korea Task Force

Korea Task Force in Cambodia Arrests 136 in 50 Days
Inspired by the "Korean Desk" Featured in the Drama "Casino"
Swift and Systematic Command Leads to Success in Eight Operations
Police: "No Matter Where Fugitives Flee Overseas, They Will B

The National Police Agency's "Korea Task Force," which was dispatched to Cambodia to eradicate scam crime organizations that caused widespread harm to the public, successfully carried out eight operations over 50 days, apprehending 136 suspects. This is being seen as evidence of the police's strong commitment to a robust response, as they mobilized the capabilities of related government agencies such as the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The National Police Agency announced on January 28 that since the launch of the Korea Task Force in Cambodia in November of last year, they have apprehended 136 suspects and rescued four individuals locally. Of the 73 Korean suspects forcibly repatriated to South Korea on the 23rd (68 of whom were apprehended by the Korea Task Force), 72 have been detained. The police plan to refer them to the prosecution within this month as soon as the investigation is completed.

Police are standing by on the 23rd at Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia to repatriate Korean criminal gang members who committed crimes such as scams and hostage robbery. National Police Agency

The Korea Task Force is a dedicated unit for Korean cases established within the Cambodian National Police Agency, where seven Korean police officers and twelve Cambodian police officers work together. It was inspired by the "Korean Desk," which became well known through television dramas. In the early 2010s, after a series of murders of Koreans in the Philippines, the Korean government established a Korean Desk at the Angeles City Criminal Investigation Division in the Philippines. The Korea Task Force in Cambodia was formed at the government level in response to a surge in crime victims at large-scale scam sites in Cambodia since October of last year, enabling the rapid dispatch of police. The National Police Agency also set up a comprehensive response team for transnational crime to strategically direct local activities.

The team consists of seasoned professionals with extensive experience in both investigations and international cooperation. According to the police, scientific investigation and digital forensics experts were also included, further enhancing the expertise of the Korea Task Force in light of the characteristics of scam crimes.

The National Intelligence Service released images of the scam site in Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. National Intelligence Service

Given that the crimes occurred overseas and scam organizations operated in closed locations using aliases for security, investigations by the Korea Task Force were expected to face significant challenges. However, drawing on their accumulated experience in international cooperation, the police began by collecting and analyzing intelligence on scam sites from investigative agencies across Cambodia. After cracking down on scam sites, a joint investigation team composed of Korean investigators was dispatched locally to quickly conduct basic investigations, such as identifying victims.

In particular, through a global cooperation operation meeting named "Breaking Chains," signifying the intent to sever the links of scam crimes, the task force secured active cooperation from foreign police agencies. By discussing the intelligence gathered by the Korean police on the international stage, they established a system for investigating overseas cases through international cooperation.

The Korea Task Force tracked suspects using various methods, including undercover and surveillance operations, while taking precautions to avoid exposing their identities due to the risk of murder threats from criminal organizations. Earlier this month, when intelligence was received that a Korean suspect would arrive at Phnom Penh Airport, members disguised themselves as tourists, conducted surveillance, and even handed over evidence in a restroom.

Korean criminal gang members who committed crimes such as scams and hostage robbery in Cambodia were repatriated to South Korea through Incheon International Airport on the 23rd and are being escorted to investigative agencies. Photo by Yonhap News.

Additionally, for each operation, the task force cross-verified the intelligence they collected with the National Police Agency, the National Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure accuracy and completeness. Over the course of 50 days, they successfully carried out eight operations and, most importantly, solidified a relationship of trust with the Cambodian police. It is reported that local police officers have shown a strong desire to learn from Korea's scientific investigation and forensic capabilities.

Lee Jaeyoung, Acting Director General of International Police Cooperation at the National Police Agency, warned, "No matter where in the world criminals flee, we will respond strictly, centered on the Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force, to ensure they are brought to justice," adding, "Overseas criminal organizations should remember that if they target Koreans, they will inevitably be apprehended."