12 Chinese Arrested in Sa Kaeo Illegal Border Crossing Attempt

Picture courtesy of Naewna

Security forces arrested 17 people attempting to cross illegally into Cambodia on 27 September in Sa Kaeo province. The group included 12 Chinese nationals, two Myanmar citizens, one Thai man and two Cambodians suspected of leading the operation. They were intercepted near Ban Mai Pak Hong in Khlong Nam Sai, Aranyaprathet district, while trying to reach Poipet.

Colonel Chainarong Kasi, commander of the Aranyaprathet Task Force, led the joint operation alongside paramilitary and immigration officers. Acting on intelligence, the team increased patrols along natural border routes and located the group walking through farmland towards the frontier. None of the foreign nationals possessed passports or work permits.

Among those detained were 12 Chinese (10 men, 2 women) and two Myanmar nationals (one man, one woman). A Thai man, identified as 55-year-old Mr Somporn Khunphu from Sa Kaeo, was also caught. Two Cambodian men, Sang Ree and Pea Nud, were arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal crossing.

During questioning, the Chinese and Myanmar nationals admitted they had previously worked in online casinos along the Myanmar border. They said they were recruited for new online work opportunities in Poipet, Cambodia and were promised high incomes. To fund the journey, they paid 40,000 yuan (approximately 180,800 baht) for travel arrangements.

They claimed to have first entered Thailand illegally via Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai border area before being transported to Bangkok, where they stayed for three days. Later, a Thai man named Mr Kai drove them by pickup truck to the border in Aranyaprathet. There, two Cambodians were waiting to guide them across on foot when authorities intervened.

Mr Somporn, the Thai suspect, told police he had been invited by a friend to work as an administrator for an online gambling platform in Poipet. He said he did not pay travel fees and was transported alongside the foreign nationals. Authorities have placed him under investigation for suspected involvement in the smuggling network.

All 17 individuals, including the Cambodian guides, were transferred to Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for legal proceedings. Officials confirmed they will face charges under immigration and anti-trafficking laws, with further investigations underway into the wider smuggling network.

Key Takeaways

• Thai forces arrested 17 people attempting to cross illegally into Cambodia at Sa Kaeo.

• The group included 12 Chinese, 2 Myanmar nationals, 1 Thai, and 2 Cambodian guides.

• They were allegedly recruited for online casino jobs in Poipet after paying large travel fees.

Related Stories

Border-arrests-surge-after-three-month-checkpoint-closure/

Four-Bangladeshi-men-duped-in-Cambodia-arrested-in-Thailand

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-09-29