215 Foreigners, Including 109 Thais, Rescued from Cambodian Scam Centre
Joint Operation Targets Scam Gangs
Cambodian police have rescued 215 foreign nationals, including 109 Thais, from a scam compound in Poipet city. The operation follows increased collaboration between Thai and Cambodian authorities to combat transnational scam gangs.
High-Level Meeting Leads to Raid
The raid was conducted on Saturday in Banteay Meanchey province, opposite Thailand’s Aranyaprathet district. It came after an urgent meeting on Friday between Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Thailand’s Royal Thai Police inspector-general, and senior Cambodian police officers. The meeting focused on strategies to dismantle call centre scam operations.
Scam Compound Linked to High-Ranking Official
Authorities acted on intelligence indicating that Chinese scammers were using a three-storey building to run online scams and gambling businesses. The building and land reportedly belong to a high-ranking government official in Banteay Meanchey province.
Rescued Victims Under Investigation
Among the 215 rescued individuals were 109 Thais (including 54 women), 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, five Taiwanese, and three Indonesians. Cambodian police are now verifying their identities and recording personal data. Thai Government spokesman Jirayu Huangsub stated that the 109 Thais will undergo screening to determine whether they were victims or accomplices.
Largest Rescue Operation to Date
According to security intelligence sources, this operation marks the highest number of victims rescued from a scam compound in both Thailand and Cambodia. Authorities have vowed to continue their crackdown on such illegal operations.
Wider Crackdown on Human Trafficking
Meanwhile, Thai authorities successfully repatriated 621 Chinese nationals trafficked into Myanmar to work for scam gangs. They were rescued and flown back to China from Mae Sot airport in Tak province between February 20 and 22.
