35 Thais Arrested After Crossing Border to Open Mule Accounts

Picture courtesy of Daily News

Border security forces have arrested 35 Thai nationals for illegally crossing into Cambodia to open so-called mule bank accounts for call centre scam gangs, before being abandoned and forced to return to Thailand on their own. The group was detained by ranger forces while moving along a natural border route in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, on 16 January. All suspects have been handed over to police for further legal action, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb transnational cybercrime networks operating along the Thai–Cambodian border.

The arrests followed an order by Colonel Chainarong Kasee, commander of the Aranyaprathet Task Force under Burapha Forces, to intensify patrols to prevent and suppress illegal activities along natural crossing routes. Ranger Company 1206 was deployed to monitor areas near the border, particularly routes frequently used by smugglers and trafficking networks. During the patrol, officers spotted a large group of people carrying luggage and walking along a natural path approximately 250 metres from the border canal known as Khlong Nam Sai.

The group was intercepted near Ban Noen Sombun, Moo 12, Khlong Nam Sai subdistrict, Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. Officers found that all 35 individuals were Thai nationals, comprising 27 men and eight women. They were taken into custody for questioning after failing to provide a lawful explanation for their presence in the restricted border area.

During questioning, the suspects stated that they had been recruited online in early January 2026 to work in Sa Kaeo province, with promised monthly wages ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 baht. After arriving in Sa Kaeo, they were allegedly led by facilitators to the border, where Cambodian intermediaries escorted them across the frontier via natural routes. Once in Cambodia, they were housed in a building within a casino complex.

The suspects said they were instructed to open mule bank accounts and undergo daily facial scanning as part of their work. When the accounts were later frozen, they were reportedly discarded by the organisers and left near the border, with directions to walk back into Thailand. Authorities view the case as further evidence of organised recruitment of Thais by scam networks exploiting border vulnerabilities.

Daily News reported that all 35 suspects have been transferred to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for prosecution under relevant laws. Officials say investigations will continue to identify recruiters and organisers on both sides of the border, while patrols in the area are expected to be maintained and expanded.

Key Takeaways

• Thai ranger forces arrested 35 Thai nationals for illegally crossing into Cambodia linked to mule bank accounts.

• The group included 27 men and eight women recruited online with promised wages of 15,000–30,000 baht.

• All suspects have been handed to Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for legal proceedings.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Dailynews 2026-01-17