On July 2, ten Thai nationals were apprehended by the Burapha Task Force while attempting to re-enter Thailand illegally near the Ban Khlong Luek permanent border crossing in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. The group was found climbing the roof of a private parking structure in the early hours of the morning.
According to military officials, the individuals had been working in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, after being recruited through Facebook for construction jobs promising daily wages of 300 baht. However, they reported that after a month of work, they were not paid and their identity documents were confiscated by the employer.
Faced with continued exploitation and no legal recourse, the workers decided to flee. They were transported by their employer to Poipet, a Cambodian town bordering Thailand. There, they were approached by a guide who demanded 3,000 baht to facilitate their return. With no money and no identification, the group opted to cross the border on their own, risking arrest and injury by navigating rooftops in the area near the crossing.
Military rangers on patrol discovered the group and took them into custody. All ten individuals were handed over to the Khlong Luek Police Station for further legal processing and assistance.
Officials said the group was visibly distressed during questioning and expressed regret over the ordeal. Authorities are expected to coordinate with relevant agencies to support their safe return and investigate the case further.
