Recently, a special law enforcement operation was launched in the eastern border area of Thailand, successfully cracking down on a criminal gang involved in organizing personnel to illegally cross the border to engage in online gambling activities. On September 16, the Eastern Joint Task Force, in collaboration with the Aranyaprathet County Task Force, the 12th Hunter Battalion Control Group, and the 1st Battalion Task Force of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, carried out a joint operation in the border area, arresting 8 suspects, seizing 2 vehicles used in the crime, and multiple sets of forged license plates.
According to law enforcement, this operation was based on intelligence obtained earlier. The intelligence indicated that there were criminal activities organizing Thai citizens to illegally go to Cambodia for work within Aranyaprathet County. Law enforcement set up checkpoints on local agricultural roads and successfully intercepted two suspicious vehicles. Inside the vehicles, a total of 8 individuals were found, including 1 route guide, 1 organizer of transportation, and 6 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally.
Initial investigations revealed that the 6 individuals planning to cross the border were enticed by job advertisements seen on social media platforms, promising high salaries to lure them to Cambodia for so-called "online gambling management work." The two organizers admitted to being hired to transport these individuals to designated border locations, receiving a payment of 100 Thai Baht for each successfully transported person. The investigation also discovered that the vehicles used 8 sets of forged license plates in an attempt to evade law enforcement checks.
All suspects and seized items have been transferred to the Khlong Nam Sai Police Station, and the case is under further investigation and review. The Thai police remind the public to be vigilant about job recruitment information promising high salaries abroad on the internet, and to avoid participating in any form of illegal cross-border activities.
This operation demonstrates the determination of Thai law enforcement to combat cross-border criminal activities and also reflects the illegal employment issues in the online gambling industry. In recent years, the online gambling industry in Southeast Asia has rapidly developed but has also led to many social issues. Law enforcement agencies in various countries are strengthening cooperation to jointly combat related illegal activities.
