Cambodia: 20 Thai Online Casino Workers Detained for Illegal Entry

Authorities in Cambodia have arrested 20 Thai workers for illegally crossing the border to work at an online casino in Preah Sihanouk province.

General Department of Immigration representative General Keo Vannthan said the department was helping the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh to send back the 20 Thai workers.

Preah Sihanouk police Chief Major General Chuon Narin said that they had arrested three Chinese and a Thai man involved in running the illegal online gambling.

He said police are also looking to arrest a Cambodian broker who brought the Thais into the country illegally.

Maj Gen Narin said police sent the 20 Thais for Covid-19 rapid tests and five came out positive.

He said while in isolation, the five posted fake news on Facebook that they were detained illegally by the online casino owner and asked for urgent help so that they could return to Thailand.

“Don’t be confused by claims that the Thais were rescued by police after being illegally detained by the casino owner. They were actually arrested for entering Cambodia without legal documents,” Maj Gen Narin said.