Authorities in Thailand are working to determine whether 119 Thai nationals recently deported from Cambodia were victims of human trafficking or had willingly participated in illegal scam operations. The group, consisting of 61 men and 58 women, was among 230 foreigners reportedly freed from a scam call centre in Poipet following a three-month investigation into Chinese-run operations.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), stated that officials are following the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a standard protocol for identifying and assisting victims of trafficking and forced labour. However, Cambodian authorities have indicated that all 119 individuals had entered the country voluntarily to engage in illicit activities, classifying them as criminal suspects.
The separation process between victims and offenders is being handled by multiple agencies, including Sa Kaeo provincial police, Provincial Police Region 2, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), the Immigration Bureau, and the CCIB. An initial review of police records through Thailand’s online crime database revealed that at least seven of the individuals had outstanding arrest warrants related to drug and fraud cases. In total, ten members of the group are linked to 46 separate investigations.
Authorities have seized 121 mobile phones from the group, which will undergo forensic analysis to determine the extent of their involvement in scam operations. Cambodian media reports noted that it was unusual for alleged trafficking victims to possess personal phones, raising further questions about their roles in the illicit activities.
Officials have stated that those found to be involved in transnational crime syndicates could face charges of fraud, money laundering, and participation in organised crime. Their assets may also be confiscated and auctioned, with proceeds potentially returned to victims of the scams.
The case continues to unfold as authorities work through evidence and testimonies.
