UPDATE: Ministry confirms raids on two illegal online operations in Cambodia and says 230 foreigners freed
Thai and International media is reporting that Thai and Cambodian police rescued 215 victims, including 109 Thais, 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, five Taiwanese and three Indonesians, from a call-centre scam operation in PoiPet, Cambodia on Sunday 23rd of February.
The Nation Thailand reports that Thai Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub stated that Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet reported the rescue operation to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra immediately after it was completed on Sunday morning.
Jirayu explained that the gang was operating inside a three-storey building within a plaza compound in Poipet, across from the Rong Klua market in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district.
Led by a police inspector-general, Thai authorities coordinated with Cambodian police to raid the building, rescuing 109 Thai nationals—54 of whom were women—along with 50 Pakistanis, three Indonesians, and 48 Indians.
The rescued individuals were questioned in Cambodia before being transferred to Thailand.
Jirayu added that the police inspector-general met with a Cambodian deputy national police chief on Friday to plan the operation.
A police source revealed that Thai authorities were first alerted to the scam when they received an email from a victim seeking help. Following an investigation, they identified the call-centre gang’s location and sought Cambodian police assistance to carry out the raid.
Cambodian officials are now interrogating all the rescued individuals to distinguish gang members from actual victims.
According to the source, the victims will be transferred across the border at the Ban Klong Luek checkpoint at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge by Monday or Tuesday. Upon arrival, they will be handed over to Thai authorities and taken to a screening centre in Sa Kaeo for further questioning.
Those found to have voluntarily participated in the scam will face legal action, while those who were deceived into working for the gang will be allowed to return home.
Source: 215 ‘victims’, including 109 Thais, rescued from online scam gang in Cambodia
