Man Working for Online Gambling Site in Poipet Caught Illegally Climbing Border Roof to Flee

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A 21-year-old Thai national who had been working for an online gambling operation in Poipet, Cambodia, was arrested in the early hours of 5 July after attempting to illegally re-enter Thailand by climbing over a market roof near the border.

The arrest was made at approximately 02:00, by the Burapha Task Force (Special Task Force Aranyaprathet), particularly Rangers from the 1201st Company under the 12th Ranger Task Force. The man, identified as Mr. Rattanakorn was apprehended while scaling the roof of “Talad Langka Fah” (Blue Roof Market) near Rong Kluea Market in Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province.

Initial suspicions by the rangers pointed to illegal cross-border activity linked to online gambling. Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Rattanakorn had been employed by an online gambling website based in Poipet. However, the case took on added complexity when it was revealed that he was also evading mandatory military conscription in Thailand.

Mr. Rattanakorn admitted that his Border Pass had expired in January 2025, and he had also failed to report for military draft selection in April. Fearing arrest on both counts, overstaying and draft evasion, he said he was too afraid to use an official border crossing.

Instead, he paid a Cambodian guide to help him sneak back into Thailand through a “natural route.” The guide directed him to climb over rooftops, an extremely dangerous tactic intended to bypass immigration checks. His escape attempt, however, ended in failure when he was spotted and detained by the ranger unit before making it out of the border zone.

Authorities have transferred Mr. Rattanakorn to Klong Luek Police Station, where he faces charges of illegal border crossing, with further charges related to draft evasion and overstaying his pass likely to follow.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-07-06