Detained Thai Nationals: Lured by High Wages, Not Coerced
PUBLISHED: 1 Mar 2025 at 13:56
A significant operation in Poipet, Cambodia, has led to the rescue of 119 Thai nationals among a total of 230 foreigners from a scam call centre. This action is part of the ongoing efforts by local authorities to combat cybercrime.
According to a statement from the Cambodian National Police General Directorate, raids were carried out on February 22 and 23 at two different sites in Poipet, situated in Banteay Meanchey province.
Out of the 230 individuals apprehended, 123 initially identified themselves as Thai nationals; however, only 119 were confirmed to be from Thailand. The remaining individuals included citizens from Myanmar and Laos.
The Thai detainees, comprising 61 men and 58 women, acknowledged that they had entered Cambodia illegally with the intention of participating in online scams, motivated by the promise of lucrative earnings. They asserted that they were not misled into joining the operation nor were they being held against their will.
None of those detained have requested assistance from the governments of Thailand or Cambodia.
The repatriation process for all Thai nationals is currently underway.
This raid is a result of a comprehensive three-month investigation targeting Chinese-operated call centres across the region.
