Three Ethiopian nationals and one Vietnamese national were intercepted by Thai authorities after illegally crossing from Cambodia into Thailand near Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province, on 31 May 2026. The case has highlighted the continued use of the Thai-Cambodian border by transnational criminal networks linked to call centre scams, online investment fraud and human trafficking.
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The arrests took place at around 7.30am when troops from the Burapha Task Force, together with Ranger Company 1202, Sa Kaeo Immigration officers and intelligence personnel, were patrolling the border area between checkpoints O.04 and O.05 in Ban Phu Nam Kliang, Pa Rai subdistrict. Officers spotted a group of foreign nationals crossing into Thailand through a natural border route and detained them for questioning.
Investigators found that three Ethiopian nationals had been recruited by employment brokers in their home country and promised work in Cambodia. Their travel expenses were covered by the recruiters and they were transported through Thailand before being taken across the border into Cambodia via unofficial routes.
Upon arrival, the Ethiopians said they were confined inside a building for between four and six months and forced to participate in online fraud operations, including so-called “phishing fan” scams and schemes designed to persuade victims to invest through online platforms. They alleged that the operation was controlled by Chinese employers and that they were subjected to physical abuse and strict restrictions on their freedom.
The group told authorities that Cambodian security forces raided the compound in late March, prompting the Chinese operators to flee. The victims were then able to escape. They later worked on construction sites in Poipet for about two months to earn money before attempting to enter Thailand in order to return to their home country.
The Vietnamese national, aged 21, told investigators he had responded to a social media job advertisement offering work as a customer chat administrator in Cambodia with a salary of 30,000 baht per month. After contacting recruiters through the Line messaging application and travelling to Poipet, he discovered the work differed from what had been advertised and decided to return via Thailand.
Thai authorities said the arrests demonstrate how criminal organisations continue to use border areas between Thailand and Cambodia to move migrant workers and trafficking victims into scam compounds and other illegal operations in neighbouring countries.
Amarin reported that all four foreign nationals were transferred to investigators at Sa Kaeo Immigration for legal proceedings on charges of illegal entry into Thailand. Authorities said efforts are continuing to identify and prosecute brokers, traffickers and other members of the cross-border network involved.
Picture courtesy of Amarin
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 1 June 2026
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