Poipet Crackdown: 16 Thai, Shan, and Vietnamese Nationals Arrested Fleeing into Thailand, Illegal Online Gambling Operation UFABET168 Exposed

At 5:30 a.m. on May 14, 2025, Eastern Command forces including Border Patrol Police from Aranyaprathet District and Military Region 12, coordinated with Sakaew Provincial Customs, launched intensive patrols along the border near Ban Phu Nam Kliao in Aranyaprathet District, Sakaew Province, following reports of human trafficking through natural border routes. Officers discovered a suspicious group moving through the borderline, leading to the arrest of 16 individuals: 4 Thai nationals, 2 Vietnamese citizens, and 10 Myanmar nationals of Shan descent, all traveling without proper documentation and illegally entering Thailand.

Investigations revealed that the four Thai nationals were recruited through friends and acquaintances to work for the "UFABET168" online gambling operation in Poipet, deceived by promises of high monthly earnings between 15,000-25,000 baht. Some had previously worked as motorcycle taxi drivers, warehouse employees, salespeople, and factory workers before deciding to cross the border over a year ago.

When tensions escalated along the Thai-Cambodian border, certain checkpoints closed, trapping them in Poipet. A Cambodian broker then offered to smuggle them back into Thailand through natural routes for 8,000 baht per person, using a Cambodian-registered vehicle to drop them at the border before they crossed on foot.

The 10 Shan Myanmar nationals stated they were brought from Siemreap to Poipet by a Chinese syndicate to work as security guards for a Chinese company. Following Cambodia's crackdown on call centers and online scammers, their employer halted operations, prompting them to attempt illegal re-entry to Thailand to return home.

Authorities are processing all suspects and expanding the investigation to identify broker networks, trafficking operations, and financial channels linked to transnational online gambling businesses.