Chinese Trio Arrested After Claiming Escape from Poipet Scam Gangs

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

Three Chinese nationals were arrested in the early hours of 4 July, after illegally crossing the Thai-Cambodian border on foot. The men claimed they were fleeing from forced involvement in scam operations in Poipet, Cambodia, but Thai authorities remain unconvinced due to inconsistencies in their statements and the suspicious nature of their possessions.

The arrest took place near Ban Khok Sabaeng village in the Tha Kham subdistrict of Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, at around 02:00. Soldiers from Thailand’s Burapha Task Force, under the Royal Thai Army’s Eastern Command, apprehended the group.

None of the men carried identification documents. However, a search revealed they were in possession of six mobile phones, a detail that immediately raised red flags.

During initial questioning, the trio claimed to have travelled from Yunnan Province in China, passing through Myanmar before entering Thailand illegally. They alleged they had been recruited by a Thai national to work in Poipet, Cambodia. Upon arrival, they said, they realised they had been deceived and were being forced to work for a scam network, prompting their decision to flee back into Thailand.

Authorities, however, remain sceptical of the story. The men were unable to provide the name of the company they were meant to work for, the nature of the job or details of who facilitated their travel. Despite claiming they had been misled, they insisted all arrangements were made on their behalf and refused to give further specifics.

Officials noted that the lack of documentation, vague testimony, and possession of multiple mobile phones, typical tools used in online fraud operations, raise the possibility that the men were not victims, but rather operatives attempting to infiltrate or expand scamming activity into Thailand.

The three men have been handed over to Khlong Luek Police Station for further questioning. Investigators are now working to trace their full travel route and determine whether they are connected to broader human trafficking or cyber scam networks operating in the region.

Further investigation may lead to the unmasking of wider criminal operations, including those exploiting foreign nationals for fraud schemes in border areas like Poipet.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-05