635 Thai Nationals Repatriated Following Cambodia's Online Scam Crackdown

Following a significant crackdown on online scam networks, Cambodia has repatriated 635 Thai nationals who were detained during these operations. The individuals were returned to Thailand in two groups on April 30th, passing through the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. The first group, comprising 350 Thai citizens, crossed the border around 4:50 PM, with the remaining 285 following at approximately 6:20 PM. This completed the agreed-upon handover between Thai and Cambodian officials. The repatriation was a result of coordinated efforts involving diplomatic, military, police, labor, social development, and security agencies from both nations. Thai authorities have stated that each returnee will undergo a thorough screening process. The objective is to ascertain whether they were victims of deception, coerced into working in Cambodia, or if they knowingly participated in illegal activities. This screening involves over 70 questions covering travel history, job responsibilities, associated networks, and potential links to call center gangs, online gambling, internet scams, and human trafficking. Victims identified during this process will receive protection and support from the Thai government. Conversely, any individuals found to be involved with criminal organizations will face legal action. Initial checks have already revealed that at least one returnee had an active arrest warrant, and several others were on a watchlist. Reports indicate that some of the repatriated individuals had previously attempted to return to Thailand but were unable to cross the border. It is believed that more Thai nationals remain in Cambodia, and coordination efforts for future repatriations are ongoing. The transfer process itself was time-consuming, partly due to Cambodia's use of small buses transporting about 15 people at a time, and the detention site being approximately one kilometer from the border, necessitating multiple transport rounds.