AMIDST the current stringent control of the Thai-Cambodian border to intercept call-centre gangs moving their base of operation from Myanmar to Cambodia, a Thai-Indian man was arrested this morning (Feb. 23) at Khlong Luek checkpoint, Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, after officials found 15.7 million baht in cash within a large backpack he was carrying across from Cambodia’s Poipet border town, Amarin TV said.
The suspect, Mr. Om (assumed name), 47, looked suspicious as he walked into the border checkpoint so officials stopped him to search his backpack and were stunned to find this big sum of money.
The suspect told the officials that he had won the money while gambling at a casino in Poipet, but they did not believe him.
As they suspected that the money he was smuggling into the country had been obtained illegally and possibly linked to a scam gang he was arrested on the charges of violating Section 242 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 and failing to comply with the Finance Ministry’s foreign exchange regulations.
The Sa Kaeo Immigration Bureau is now expanding investigation to trace the money trail.
On Feb. 5 the Thai government cut electricity, Internet and fuel supply from five points to three Myanmar townships – Tachileik, Myawaddy and Payathonzu – to suppress transnational criminals running scam hubs there.
It is now feared that the scam gangs will move to Cambodia.
CAPTON:
Top and Front Page: The suspect and the large amount of “gambling win” he carried across from Poipet to Aranyaprathet. Photos: Amarin TV
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