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Two Vietnamese Flee Scammer Compound, Caught in Border Shelling

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Pictures courtesy of Amarin

 

Two Vietnamese men emerged from forest along the Thai–Cambodian border in Surin province on 11 December 2025, trembling and in tears after fleeing a scammer compound near a casino in Cambodia and becoming trapped amid ongoing cross-border clashes. Local volunteers and police found the pair exhausted, injured from walking through the forest and fearful of artillery fire that continued to strike near the Chong Chom border market. Officers provided immediate assistance before initiating legal procedures for their transfer to immigration authorities.

 

The men, aged in their twenties, were spotted around 10.20 near the entrance of the permanent border checkpoint in Dan subdistrict, Kap Choeng district. One carried Vietnamese identification under the name Cancuoc, while the other had no documents. Witnesses reported seeing them emerge from a drainage canal, appearing weak, with scratches on their limbs and swollen feet, prompting villagers and volunteers to offer food and water at the roadside opposite the market.


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Initial communication through hand gestures revealed that the pair had escaped from a scammer building located behind a casino in the O Smach area of Oddar Meanchey province, where they had been held with thousands of other foreign nationals. They said three men escaped together but were separated in the forest, leaving the fate of the third unknown. They walked toward the Thai border hoping to find help from local residents.

 

During the interview, loud artillery blasts were heard over the Chong Chom market, with rounds passing overhead and causing renewed panic for the younger man, who shook uncontrollably while eating. Volunteers attempted to calm him as officers increased vigilance. Thai security forces have been on alert due to ongoing hostilities on the Cambodian side, including reports of Thai air operations targeting Cambodian military positions, weapons depots and drone-control sites.

 

Police coordinated with investigative officers from Kap Choeng Police Station to take custody of the two men for questioning and legal processing. They will subsequently be handed over to Surin Immigration for repatriation procedures. Shelling continued intermittently during the operation, and a Thai fighter jet was also observed flying over the border zone.

 

Authorities believe the escalating conflict and recent airstrikes in areas surrounding the casino complex triggered widespread fear among trafficked workers in scam compounds, prompting more escape attempts. Similar cases of Vietnamese nationals fleeing across the border have been reported in recent days as instability persists.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Two Vietnamese men fled a scammer compound in Cambodia and crossed into Surin, seeking help amid ongoing border artillery fire.

• Both were exhausted, injured and without proper documentation, prompting immediate assistance and police intervention.

• Authorities expect more escape attempts as conflict near Cambodian casino scam centres intensifies.

 

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image.png Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-12-12


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