Two Thais Caught Crossing from Cambodia After Gambling Job

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

Border patrol officers have arrested two Thai nationals who allegedly crawled through a concertina wire fence to illegally re-enter Thailand from Cambodia, after working as administrators for an online gambling website in Poipet.

The arrests were made at around 01.45 on 14 August in the Ban Khlong Luek area, Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, near the permanent border checkpoint. Officers from the Burapha Task Force, acting under the command of Colonel Chainarong Kasi, intercepted the pair during a night patrol.

The suspects, identified as Mr. Jakkraphan, 21, from Ranong and Mr. Setthawut, 20, from Phang Nga, were found without passports. Both admitted to having crossed into Cambodia via an informal route earlier this year to work for a gambling website known as “Heng”, based in a walled compound in Poipet containing several multi-storey buildings.

They claimed they had been confined to the premises since April and were not permitted to return to Thailand. Following unrest in the area, they decided to escape, paying a Cambodian guide 10,000 baht to help them cross the border. The guide fled back into Cambodia when soldiers appeared.

The two men were handed over to police at Khlong Luek station for legal proceedings. Authorities reminded the public that the Ban Khlong Luek permanent border checkpoint is open daily from 1pm to 4pm for Thais returning from Cambodia and Cambodians returning home and urged those wishing to cross to do so through official channels with proper documentation.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-08-15