The 'grey Chinese' flood into Thailand, serving as a target for transnational criminals who cross natural borders and risk Cambodian landmines to relocate their operations into Thailand.
When discussing dangerous points along the Thai-Cambodian border, the villages of Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province, are often designated as high-surveillance zones. This area lacks natural terrain barriers separating borders; instead, it consists of long plains, dense sugarcane fields, and interconnected rice paddies, frequently used as routes by the 'grey Chinese' scammer gangs for illegal border crossings.
News reports often mention Sri Phen Road as the final checkpoint, where authorities have installed barbed wire barriers and warning signs about landmines. After our team identified this danger zone, we coordinated with Border Patrol Police Unit 126 to join their patrol missions along the border and their efforts to intercept scammer gangs relocating their base into Thailand to commit crimes.
The patrol area is near Ban Ang Sila adjacent to Nong Ya Kaeo. Most illegal crossers are Chinese scammers. When apprehended, their equipment is confiscated. Under heavy pressure from Chinese authorities, several ringleaders of these operations have been prosecuted.
Although the Cambodian leadership persistently denies responsibility, ultimately they are compelled to stage crackdowns on some transnational criminals. This is why some gang members have chosen to establish secondary bases in Thailand.
This terrain is a dirt-to-dirt border area with many dense spots ideal for concealing from authorities, such as this palm plantation. While accompanying officials in the field, we detected signs of unusual activity, prompting officers to signal us to immediately conceal our identities.
Investigations revealed these individuals include scammers and undocumented workers crossing illegally. Authorities arrested them and proceeded with legal actions.
The foot patrol ends at a location known as the 'minefield,' a dangerous area containing Cambodian landmines. Despite the life-threatening risks, some scammers choose this route, risking their lives to enter the country illegally.
This is the closest safe point to the minefield. It remains unclear whether new mines have been planted. According to the EOD unit, they were about to clear the area but encountered clashes first. This area is thus known as the 'minefield'.
Like many crimes, nighttime is often used to carry out illegal activities.
Similarly, the illegal border crossing network prefers nighttime as their prime time to operate.
While illegal crossings may end with arrests, the border residents suffer directly from all incidents—living in fear, facing damages, and dealing with homes destroyed during recent second-round clashes.
Border issues are fragile and complex. Although arrests of 'grey Chinese' and scammer networks crossing the border have significantly increased, transnational crime groups continue to use Thailand as a transit route and new stronghold.
Dirty money converted into weapons that destroy Thai lives along the border remains an unresolved problem.
However, amid ongoing political power struggles in Thailand without resolution, these problems quietly persist but with escalating severity.
When serious decisions to solve these issues are finally made, the lives of citizens—whom they call the nation's heart—may be too damaged to heal.
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