Two Chinese nationals linked to a scam operation were arrested by Thai rangers after illegally crossing the border from Cambodia into Sa Kaeo province, authorities confirmed on 7 April. The men were apprehended while walking through farmland near a natural border crossing point in Khok Sung district. Officers also seized IT equipment, including a high-spec gaming laptop and four iPhones.
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The arrests followed orders from Colonel Chainarong Kasee, commander of the Aranyaprathet task force, and Colonel Pongsakorn Sueangam, commander of Ranger Task Force 12. Troops from Ranger Company 1205, working with local officials, had been conducting patrols after receiving intelligence about a smuggling network transporting foreign nationals across the border illegally.
Authorities intercepted the two suspects near the boundary markers between designated zones in Ban Ang Sila, Non Mak Mun subdistrict. The men, identified as Cheng Zhaoxin, 26, from Sichuan, and Li Xiajia, 32, from Jiangsu, were found without passports. They were detained and taken for further questioning.
During initial interrogation, both men said they had been recruited by a fellow Chinese national known as A Hao to work for an online operation in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia. They claimed the work involved internet-based scams and that they had been based at the Grand Diamond building.
The suspects stated they worked there for four months but were never paid, leading them to believe they had been deceived. They also described poor living conditions, prompting their decision to flee. They gathered their belongings and arranged transport to escape the compound.
According to their account, they hired a three-wheeled vehicle to reach a meeting point, then transferred to a car on the Cambodian side. The vehicle travelled along National Road 5 before dropping them in a field near the border, where a Cambodian guide led them on foot towards Thailand.
Thai authorities charged the men with illegal entry into the Kingdom without permission. They were handed over to investigators at Khok Sung Police Station for legal proceedings and further investigation into possible links with transnational scam networks.
Daily News reported that officials said the case highlights ongoing cross-border criminal activity tied to scam operations in border areas. Security forces have increased patrols and surveillance along natural crossing routes to curb illegal movement and dismantle trafficking networks.
Picture courtesy of Daily News
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 8 Apr 2026
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