ASIA/THAILAND – Casinos and scam cities: an open issue fueling the war

Bangkok – The conflict on the border between Thailand and Cambodia is not just territorial. Adding to the tensions between the two countries is an unresolved issue concerning the role of the so-called “scam cities,” such as Poipet and Bavet, located on Cambodian territory along the border and operated by criminal organizations with possible institutional complicity.
Thailand is generally a transit country through which victims travel or stay , and border towns like Aranyaprathet are involved in cross-border activities. These centers are typically large, enclosed complexes where victims are forced to participate in online scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrencies and investments. They are the “new slaves,” scammers whose passports are confiscated and who are subjected to violence and forced labor. According to analysts, the Thai government intends to increase pressure on these centers of illegal activity, which represent a source of economic revenue for Cambodia. This explains why the Thai army has targeted casinos and scam centers along the Cambodian border. In recent days, at least five of these facilities have been attacked, based on the claim that the buildings, located in at least three provinces, were also used by the Cambodian army for drone launches, troop deployments, or missile storage. Thai forces bombed the O’Smach Casino in Oddar Meanchey province , which had previously been sanctioned for “serious human rights violations related to the treatment of victims of human trafficking.” The nearby Royal Hill Resort, identified by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime as a suspected scam center, was also attacked. Other reported targets include the Sai Taku Resort and the Chob Kokir Khang Lich in Oddar Meanchey, as well as a casino near the Chong An Ma border crossing in Preah Vihear province. Analysts say the casino owners receive government protection from Cambodia in exchange for financial support and political backing, while the Cambodian government continues to deny any connection to the scam industry. Thailand’s military intervention against the “fraudulent oligarchs” and their activities in Cambodia came just days after the seizure of $300 million from tycoons Kok An, Lim Yeak, and Chen Zhi.

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