AKP Phnom Penh, October 8, 2026 -- The Ministry of Interior has clarified that Cambodian authorities did not arrest or hand over an Australian national and a Norwegian national to Vietnamese authorities, following a search launched after the two individuals were reported missing.

In a press release issued on Oct. 7, the Ministry said the General Commissariat of National Police received a request for intervention from the Australian Embassy in Cambodia on Sept. 22 regarding the disappearance of TRAN HIEP, an Australian passport holder.

The same night, the Ministry received further information confirming that HIEP’s travelling companion, NGUYEN THUAN DUC, a Norwegian passport holder, had also lost contact with his family since Sept. 18.

Upon receiving the information, the General Commissariat of National Police immediately instructed specialised forces to conduct a comprehensive search and investigation, according to the Ministry.

The General Department of Immigration’s records showed that HIEP and DUC had entered Cambodia from Thailand on Sept. 15 via Techo International Airport on flight K6 723.

The immigration data management system also indicated that neither individual had a record of departing Cambodia, prompting the specialised forces to continue their investigation, the Ministry said.

However, based on information from competent authorities of the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam, Vietnamese authorities publicly announced on Sept. 28 that they had detained three individuals, namely HIEP, DUC and Vietnamese national THAI CONG TRUONG SON.

According to the information provided by the Vietnamese authorities, the three were detained on Sept. 18 at 9:50 p.m. at the My Quy Tay Border Guard Station in Tay Ninh province for illegally crossing the border into Viet Nam. They were also accused of being members of the Viet Tan terrorist organisation and are currently being detained in Viet Nam for further investigation.

In this regard, the Ministry of Interior categorically denied allegations that Cambodian authorities had arrested and handed over the three individuals to the Vietnamese authorities.

“The competent authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia did not arrest and hand over the aforementioned individuals to the Vietnamese authorities,” the Ministry affirmed.

The Ministry said the clarification was made following its search and investigation into the reported disappearance of the two foreign nationals and in accordance with information obtained through cooperation with relevant competent authorities.

By C. Nika