Cambodia has opened its border checkpoint and begun gradually releasing the first group of 350 Thai nationals back to their country, amid relatives who came early to welcome them. Officials are speeding up health screenings and stressed that legal proceedings will be pursued against those who intentionally committed offenses. The rest are expected to be released gradually by tonight.
On 30 April 2026, reporters reported on the progress of receiving Thai nationals returning from Cambodia at the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint, Sa Kaeo province. Officials from various agencies have integrated efforts to prepare for receiving 635 Thais officially sent back by the Cambodian authorities under the cooperation framework between the two countries.
Major General Worawet Wanmongkol, Director of the Public Relations Office, Army Intelligence Department, said this operation is an important result of cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia, utilizing diplomatic, military, and integrated security mechanisms. The Army, Royal Thai Police, and related agencies are closely involved to ensure the repatriation proceeds smoothly, transparently, and in accordance with international law.
"The main objective is to restore the situation to normal and strengthen border security," said Major General Worawet.
Police Major General Thitiwat Suriyachai, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 2, stated that after receiving the Thais, officials will conduct thorough screenings using a "multidisciplinary team" comprising the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Labour, and security agencies. They will distinguish between those who are "victims" deceived into working and those who "intentionally" engaged in illegal activities. The screening includes a questionnaire with over 70 items covering travel behavior, job types, involved networks, and possible crimes such as call center gangs, online gambling, internet scams, and human trafficking. Officials have updated screening methods to address increasingly complex situations.
"Victims will receive protection and assistance through proper procedures, but those involved with criminal organizations will face full legal consequences," said Police Major General Thitiwat.
Preliminary information checks revealed some individuals linked to cases with arrest warrants—at least one person has a warrant, and several others are under surveillance. Officials will conduct detailed verification during screening. Additionally, some returning Thais belong to groups that previously attempted to return but could not cross the border. A number of Thais remain stranded in Cambodia, and coordination continues to repatriate them gradually.
Officials also warned Thais who may be victims abroad to promptly seek help through embassies or relevant agencies for proper assistance. At the same time, they emphasized that those who intentionally break laws overseas will face strict legal action.
Most recently, at 16:50, Cambodia opened its border gate and began gradually releasing the first batch of 350 Thais crossing back into Thailand, bringing relief to officials and relatives who had waited on the Thai side since early morning.
Reports state that the remaining 285 Thais are still undergoing procedures on the Cambodian side. Officials confirmed all will be repatriated today but expect the process to continue until around midnight due to transportation constraints.
The transfer of Thais from Cambodian detention areas uses small buses that can carry about 15 people each. Since the detention site is about one kilometer from the border checkpoint, transfers must be done in multiple rounds, resulting in a lengthy process.
After arriving in Thailand, officials organized systematic screening points with separate tables based on the detention buildings each person was held in, facilitating data verification. All 635 were held in the same building in Cambodia. Observations showed most returnees appeared visibly tired and exhausted due to hot weather, waiting times, and delays on the Cambodian side. Nevertheless, everyone hurriedly carried their belongings across into Thailand with hope and relief upon returning home. Thai officials continue to closely monitor the situation and prepare to receive the remaining 285 Thais expected to return later tonight.