Recently, a poignant scene unfolded along the border between Thailand and Cambodia. The Thai military intercepted 10 individuals attempting to illegally cross the border back into their country in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. These were not ordinary smugglers; they all came from the same industry—gambling. With the sudden "shutdown" of the gambling industry in parts of Cambodia, these jobless workers had no choice but to take a perilous journey home.
Border Midnight Arrest Operation
This operation was carried out by the Aranyaprathet special forces. During routine patrols, the military noticed suspicious movements on a small sugarcane field path leading to the border, and followed the trail to capture these 10 illegal crossers. After a headcount, there were 9 Thais and one Malaysian buddy.
Survival Path under the "Shutdown Wave"
Why did they risk smuggling? After initial questioning, the truth emerged. These 9 Thais previously worked on an online gambling platform in Poipet, Cambodia, while the Malaysian man worked as a dealer at the "Mai Casino" in Poipet. They mentioned that the local gambling zone had recently encountered "issues," leading to consecutive closures of online gambling and casino departments, abruptly ending their employment.
To hurry back to their country, they found no official channels available and had to resort to smuggling groups. Each person had to pay a "road fee" ranging from 5,000 to 8,500 Thai Baht—a significant amount for those suddenly unemployed. Unexpectedly, after being abandoned near the border by the smuggling gang, they were quickly discovered by the military.
Authorities Warn of End-of-Year Smuggling Wave
Currently, these 10 individuals have been handed over to the local police station and will be processed according to the laws related to illegal entry. This incident is a microcosm. In recent months, there have been frequent layoffs and closures in the Cambodian gambling industry, cutting off the livelihoods of many foreign workers. Thai authorities have thus issued a warning, fearing a new wave of smuggling as the year-end approaches. For more cross-border industry dynamics and risk analysis, follow the PASA official website. This also reminds everyone that regardless of industry fluctuations, one must enter and exit through official channels, otherwise, it truly results in "losing both money and people."
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
