Cambodian and Thai authorities rescue 215 foreigners, including 109 Thais, from a scam compound in Poipet, marking a major success in the fight against online fraud.
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| Cambodian and Thai authorities rescue 215 people, including 109 Thais, from a scam centre in Poipet, dismantling a major international fraud operation. Image: Kiri Post |
Poipet, Cambodia — February 23, 2025:
In a coordinated operation between Thailand and Cambodia, 215 foreign nationals, including 109 Thais, were rescued from a scam centre in Poipet city. The rescue operation is the largest of its kind for both nations, showcasing the growing collaboration between the two governments to combat international online fraud and human trafficking networks.
The operation followed an urgent meeting on Friday between Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, the Royal Thai Police inspector-general, and high-ranking Cambodian officials. They discussed plans to target and dismantle call centre scam gangs that have been increasingly active in the region.
On Saturday, Cambodian police raided a three-storey building in Banteay Meanchey province, situated near Thailand’s Aranyaprathet district, after receiving intelligence about Chinese scammers operating online fraud and gambling businesses. The building, which was reportedly owned by a senior government official from Banteay Meanchey province, served as a hub for the criminal syndicate.
The 215 people rescued include 109 Thais (54 of them women), 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, 5 Taiwanese, and 3 Indonesians. Cambodian police are currently questioning the victims and gathering personal details to assess their roles in the operation. The 109 Thai nationals will undergo additional screenings to determine whether they were victims or potential accomplices in the scam operations.
This raid marks a significant success in the fight against international fraud, with both Thai and Cambodian authorities determined to continue cracking down on scam gangs operating across borders. In a related effort, between February 20 and 22, 621 Chinese nationals trafficked into Myanmar were rescued and repatriated to China.
With these joint efforts, Thai and Cambodian authorities have demonstrated their commitment to tackling the growing threat posed by international scam syndicates, with more operations expected in the coming months.