Aranyaprathet: Burapha forces arrested 23 Thais who were attempting to cross a natural path into Cambodia to work at an online casino. Yesterday, a Thai woman voiced her distress to the media after fleeing from Poipet, claiming she was coerced into shooting advertisements for a gambling website and was targeted as a bounty hunter.
According to Thai News Agency, in Ban Saen Suk, Tambon Khlong Nam Sai, Amphoe Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province, the Burapha Task Force discovered a group of 23 suspicious individuals walking toward the Cambodian border, approximately 300 meters from Si Phen Road. Upon the officers revealing themselves, three gunshots were heard, prompting them to fire a warning shot into the sky. Once the situation was under control, 22 suspects were apprehended, including eight men, 14 women, and one guide. The guide, a Thai named Mr. Krai, aged 38 from Sa Kaeo Province, was injured in the left ribcage and subsequently taken to Aranyaprathet Hospital.
The initial investigation revealed that the illegal border crossers were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of employees from the Sanco Building online casino in Poipet who attempted to return to Thailand to stamp their documents but were hindered by Thailand's stringent border measures. The second group aimed to cross the border for work in Cambodia, having paid a guide between 2,500-5,000 baht per person for the illegal crossing. They were later taken to Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for legal processing.
Yesterday, at Khlong Luek Police Station in Sa Kaeo Province, Ms. Sureewan, aged 30, was brought in by officers. She cried out for help from reporters, visibly distressed, and recounted her ordeal. She had left Thailand for Cambodia three days prior via natural routes because her boyfriend worked there as a driver for a Chinese boss who owned an online gambling website. However, the boss forced her into advertising work for the site, which she refused, leading to her fleeing Cambodia.
Upon reaching the checkpoint, Cambodian officers attempted to detain her. Despite being dragged and injuring both knees, she managed to exit the Thai border checkpoint, though she was fined 800 baht by Thai immigration officers for illegal re-entry.
Ms. Sureewan further explained that many Thais in Cambodia are seeking to escape through natural routes due to safety concerns. A bounty had been placed on her, intensifying her desire to leave the area. Nonetheless, Pol. Col. Phatthakon Khaowan, Superintendent of Khlong Luek Police Station, assured her safety, coordinating with her relatives via video call to confirm she would be protected until their arrival.