Cambodian police launched a raid in Poipet city on the Thai-Cambodian border, successfully dismantling two large-scale online scam centers led by Thais, arresting 63 suspects on site (including 30 women and 2 minors), and seizing a large number of crime tools. This operation marks the strongest crackdown on cross-border crime by the new Cambodian government.
Senior Supervision: Cross-border Crime Triggers Law Enforcement Upgrade
The operation was directly ordered by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sokha, with the Director-General of the National Police, Sutong, personally commanding on the front lines. Investigation reveals:
Site Selection Secrets: The scam hubs were located around the "Golden City" casino in Poipet, using the casino's foot traffic to cover up criminal activities
Transnational Crime Features: The core 7 Thai leaders controlled members through forged documents (65 Thai ID cards were seized)
Technical Investigation Breakthrough: Cambodian cyber security departments discovered through IP tracking that the gang sent 100,000 scam messages daily
Victim Mystery: Voluntary Participation or Forced Crime?
Police interrogation reveals complex details:
10 Active Participants: Mostly unemployed youths from Northeast Thailand, lured by "50,000 THB monthly" advertisements
46 Restricted Individuals: Passports were withheld but not violently controlled, some claimed "unaware of the illegal activities"
2 Children: A 15-year-old girl and her brother, the sister was recruited as "customer service", the brother was forced to participate in equipment maintenance
The chairman of the Cambodian Anti-Trafficking Committee, Zhou Wenyin, pointed out: "Criminal groups are exploiting the digital economy skills of youths in poverty-stricken areas of Southeast Asia, exerting 'soft control' over them."
Law Enforcement Dilemma: The Crime Hotbed of the Thai-Cambodian Border
Poipet city, due to its unique geographical location, has become a haven for crime:
Lawless Zone: Ambiguous law enforcement authority between Thailand and Cambodia, casino economy fosters a grey industrial chain
Technical Confrontation: Scam groups use encrypted communication apps, changing locations weekly
Judicial Cooperation Lagging: Despite ASEAN anti-crime agreements, mutual recognition of evidence still needs improvement
Transnational Deportation Procedures Initiated:
56 Thai nationals will be transferred to Thai police through the Bajin Prefecture checkpoint
7 leaders face charges under Cambodia's Anti-Cybercrime Law Article 45 (up to 15 years imprisonment)
2 children will be taken over by the Thai Department of Social Welfare
Regional Alert: Southward Migration Trend of Scam Industry
The latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows:
In 2023, Southeast Asia's scam hubs decreased by 23%, but cases in Cambodia grew against the trend by 40%
Criminal groups adopt "small squad mode" (10-20 person units) to reduce risks
Thai nationals are favored by criminal groups due to their language advantage (capable of scamming Thai/Chinese/English-speaking audiences)
The Cambodian Ministry of Interior announced the launch of three countermeasures:
Installation of facial recognition systems at immigration offices in Poipet
Establishment of a real-time alert mechanism for telecom scams with Thailand
Implementation of "cybersecurity certification" for border casinos
