BANGKOK: In a coordinated operation, Thai and Cambodian police raided a building in a border town on Sunday, rescuing 215 foreigners from a cyber scam centre. This operation is part of a broader regional crackdown on illegal online scam operations, which have been linked to criminal gangs trafficking people for exploitation across Southeast Asia.
According to the United Nations, these scam centres generate billions of dollars annually, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have been trafficked into forced labor at such centres. A 2023 UN report highlighted the rapid growth of these operations.
The raid took place in Poipet, a border town in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, targeting a three-story building. Among those freed were 109 Thais, 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, five Taiwanese, and three Indonesians, as reported by Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub.
“This is the largest number of Thais rescued from a suspected cyber fraud centre in a joint operation by Thailand and Cambodia,” Jirayu said.
The raid was part of an expanded effort between the two countries to dismantle such scam centres. These centres have operated for years but have come under increased scrutiny, particularly after the high-profile rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was trafficked to a scam centre in Myanmar.
Efforts to combat these illegal operations have intensified, with Thailand recently cutting off power, fuel, and internet supplies to areas linked to scam centres along its border with Myanmar. Additionally, China has repatriated 621 of its nationals who had been rescued from scam centres in the region.
