Group says they were recruited via social media, trafficked to work as online betting administrators in Bavet, and beaten after failing to meet targets before attempting illegal return to Thailand
Fourteen Thai nationals have been detained near the Thai–Cambodian border after allegedly escaping from online gambling operations in Cambodia and attempting to re-enter Thailand through an illegal crossing, according to a report by Khaosod English. The arrests highlight continuing concerns over cross-border recruitment, human trafficking, and labour exploitation linked to the region’s online gambling industry.
The group was intercepted by border rangers from Company 1206 of the Burapha Task Force, working in coordination with the Aranyaprathet Special Task Unit, during an evening patrol in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. Officers spotted the individuals moving on foot between checkpoints 39 and 40, approximately 150 metres from Highway 3511 in Ban Mai Pak Hong village, an area known for informal crossing routes.
Preliminary checks confirmed that all 14 detainees were Thai citizens, comprising nine men and five women. Thirteen were in possession of national identification cards, while one carried documents indicating a lack of formal civil registration. All admitted to crossing the border illegally and were taken into custody for questioning.
During interviews, the group stated that they had been recruited in late November 2025 through a Facebook page advertising jobs as administrators for online gambling websites. They were allegedly promised monthly salaries of THB 25,000 (around US$693), along with accommodation and other benefits. After being gathered from their home provinces, they were transported to Sa Kaeo and smuggled across the border into Cambodia, before being taken to Bavet city in Svay Rieng province, a known hub for online casino and betting operations.
The individuals claimed that, once employed, they were subjected to harsh working conditions. They alleged that failure to meet performance targets resulted in financial penalties and, in some cases, physical assault. Fearing for their safety, they decided to flee the compound and seek a way back to Thailand.
According to their statements, they contacted a Thai man known only as “Win,” believed to be operating in Poipet. Win allegedly charged each person THB 2,500 to facilitate their return and instructed them to cross the border on foot via a natural route, where a vehicle would supposedly be waiting to transport them further inland. However, no such vehicle appeared, and the group was instead detected and detained by Thai patrol units.
All 14 individuals have since been transferred to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai police station for legal processing. Authorities have indicated that further inquiries are underway to identify the recruiters, traffickers, and any networks involved in luring Thai nationals into illegal online gambling operations in Cambodia.
