10 Myanmar Nationals Arrested Crossing From Cambodia

Picture courtesy of Naewna

Thai security forces have arrested 10 Myanmar nationals who illegally crossed into Thailand through a natural border route in Sa Kaeo province, amid an intensified crackdown on scammer gangs in Cambodia. The group was detained shortly after midnight while attempting to move inland, and authorities say the arrests highlight ongoing cross-border movements linked to regional law enforcement operations.

The arrests took place at 12.20am on 25 January 2026 in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo. Soldiers from the Aranyaprathet Task Force under Burapha Force, led by Col Chaiyarong Kasee, together with ranger units under Col Phongsakorn Sueangam, intercepted the group during a patrol to prevent illegal border crossings. The suspects were found walking through a sugarcane field near Road 3383 in Phan Suek subdistrict, about 1.3 kilometres from the Thai-Cambodian border.

The group consisted of nine men and one woman, all Myanmar nationals, who had crossed from Cambodia into Thailand using natural routes. Immigration police from Sa Kaeo province provided interpreters to assist with questioning. According to authorities, two of the group had previously crossed into Cambodia to work in construction, while the remaining eight admitted to working in scammer gangs operating in Cambodia.

During questioning, the suspects told officials they fled Cambodia after authorities there launched an intensified crackdown on scammer networks. They said they intended to return to Myanmar and had each paid 25,000 baht to brokers to be smuggled across the border into Thailand. The group planned to hide near the roadside sugarcane fields while waiting for guides to transport them further inland before being discovered.

Security officials said the case reflects the spillover effects of Cambodia’s enforcement actions against scam operations, which have displaced foreign workers involved in or connected to such activities. The arrests underscore continued security challenges along Thailand’s eastern border, particularly in areas with accessible natural crossing points.

After initial questioning, all 10 suspects and 16 mobile phones were handed over to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai police station in Sa Kaeo. Police are conducting further inquiries to expand the investigation into the smuggling network involved and to proceed with legal action in accordance with the law.

Naewna reported that authorities said patrols and border surveillance in Aranyaprathet will continue as part of efforts to curb illegal crossings and dismantle human smuggling operations. Further developments are expected as investigators trace organisers and facilitators linked to the case.

Key Takeaways

• Ten Myanmar nationals were arrested on 25 January 2026 after illegally crossing from Cambodia into Thailand via a natural route.

• Eight of the suspects admitted to working in scammer gangs in Cambodia and fleeing after a crackdown by Cambodian authorities.

• Thai police are expanding the investigation to identify smuggling networks involved in the border crossing.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Naewna 2026-01-27