Thai authorities in Chanthaburi province have detained five individuals attempting to cross into Cambodia through an unauthorized border route, reportedly en route to jobs in the casino sector. The group, which included three Thai nationals and two Chinese men, was stopped near the Pong Nam Ron canal during a routine military patrol.
The vehicle was intercepted on Sunday near Ban Pa Wilai. The driver, a 52-year-old Thai man identified as Pakpoom, admitted he had been paid THB600 (approx. US$18) per person to assist the group’s illegal crossing into Cambodia. All six individuals were handed over to immigration officers for further legal action.
Illegal Crossings Remain Tied to Casino Employment
Border officials say such routes remain active conduits for individuals seeking unregulated work in Cambodian casinos. Looser oversight in some areas of the Cambodian gambling industry continues to attract both local and foreign workers via informal migration networks.
In a separate incident the night before, two Thai women were apprehended in Sa Kaeo province while attempting to re-enter Thailand after what authorities suspect was a gambling trip. The pair had avoided legal checkpoints and crossed back through a forest trail near the Klong Luek border area.
Ongoing Enforcement and Surveillance
Both cases underline persistent challenges in monitoring cross-border movement tied to gambling-related employment. Thai authorities continue to patrol vulnerable areas and investigate the extent of local involvement in cross-border smuggling operations.
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with further legal proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
Source: https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/29947/border-troops-intercept-illegal-crossings-tied-to-cambodian-casino-work
