SA KAEO, Thailand – A dramatic border incident unfolded on Monday when four Thai women were abandoned along the Thai-Cambodian frontier by a Cambodian guide after paying for an illegal border crossing — only to be arrested shortly after being picked up by a concerned boyfriend.
Troops from the Burapha Task Force, Aranyaprathet Special Unit, and Ranger Company 1206 apprehended one Thai man and four women, along with a sedan vehicle, in the Khlong Nam Sai subdistrict of Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. The arrest took place during a coordinated operation targeting unauthorized border crossings through natural trails.
According to authorities, the four women confessed to paying 4,000 baht each to a Cambodian broker to be smuggled back into Thailand. However, once they crossed the border through an illegal route, they were unexpectedly abandoned by the guide and left stranded in a remote border area.
Desperate and fearing for their safety, one of the women contacted her boyfriend in Thailand and asked him to come pick them up. The man drove to the agreed pickup location, but military officers were monitoring the area and intercepted the group as the vehicle arrived.
The man told authorities he came out of concern for his girlfriend’s safety and had no involvement in the smuggling operation, insisting he had only responded to her call for help. Despite his explanation, both he and the four women were detained.
All five individuals were handed over to officers at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station to face legal proceedings. Charges include illegal entry into the kingdom and assisting in unauthorized border crossings.
Officials warn that smugglers frequently abandon migrants at border zones to avoid detection, placing them at risk of arrest or worse. Authorities continue to increase patrols along natural border routes, emphasizing the dangers of bypassing official immigration checkpoints.
