The Navy arrested a foreign gang illegally entering the country, identifying them as part of a transnational cybercrime network operating along the border. They seized 270 mobile phones along with numerous SIM cards.
On 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiphan, Navy spokesperson, stated that the Navy continues proactive efforts to protect national security and regional stability under international law and state responsibility principles. The focus is on intercepting transnational crime groups using border areas as operational bases, especially cybercrime scams affecting people across many countries worldwide.
On 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7, the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command detected and detained six individuals illegally crossing the border: five Chinese men and one Cambodian man. Authorities confiscated an unusually large amount of communication equipment, including 270 mobile phones, numerous SIM cards, and cash in several currencies. These items align with supporting a transnational cybercrime network near the Thai-Cambodian border at Ban Noen Din Daeng, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province.
Initial investigations revealed that the group fled Cambodia, internationally recognized as a hub for illegal activities such as unlawful gambling businesses and cyber scam networks. This reflects a criminal structure systematically using sovereign territory as an operational base.
The Navy emphasized that under international law, states have the duty to regulate and prevent their territory from serving as centers for transnational crime. Allowing such illegal activities to continue constitutes structural failure in law enforcement and threatens the security of neighboring countries and the region. Cyber scams cannot be resolved merely by reactive measures but require sincere cooperation among origin, transit, and destination states based on transparency and shared responsibility.
The Navy confirmed that the detention of these individuals was conducted strictly according to human rights and legal standards, under the 2022 Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act. The detainees have been handed over to investigators and immigration officers to proceed with the justice process.
The Navy spokesperson called on Cambodia to recognize that cybercrime poses a joint regional threat. If Cambodia allows its territory to be used as a crime base, it will inevitably face international scrutiny as a party responsible for this issue.