SA KAEO, Thailand – National Police Inspector Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabutr led the team to receive 119 Thai nationals involved in a call center scam, who were deported back to Thailand by Cambodian authorities for prosecution. The group is facing serious charges related to transnational crime, with some individuals having outstanding arrest warrants.
On March 1, Gen. Thatchai, along with other officials, was present at the immigration checkpoint in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province, to receive the 119 Thai nationals deported from Cambodia. They were arrested during a joint raid with Thai police on a call center gang in Poipet, Cambodia, on February 22.
Cambodian authorities have completed their investigation and charged the individuals with online crime offenses (call center scams), leading to their deportation. Seven individuals from the group had arrest warrants, with a total of 15 charges. They were transferred to the Aranyaprathet checkpoint and later sent to the screening center for further processing.
Thai immigration officers are following proper procedures under the Immigration Act, with the group of 119 individuals being scrutinized carefully. Some of the suspects are linked to organized criminal groups, and authorities will pursue severe charges, including transnational crime and involvement in racketeering, to deter similar crimes in the future.
Authorities confirmed that none of the individuals were coerced or victimized; all 119 were involved in the call center scam operations in Poipet under the leadership of Chinese nationals. The Thai nationals had not been held captive and were not victims of trafficking. This case highlights the ongoing fight against international online fraud and the importance of collaboration between countries to address such crimes.
