Thailand is considering a border wall with Cambodia to curb illegal crossings and dismantle scam centres exploiting trafficked workers.
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| Thailand is considering a border wall along its Cambodian border to tackle scam operations exploiting trafficked workers. Image: Govt/ BP |
Bangkok, Thailand — March 4, 2025:
Thailand is considering the construction of a border wall with Cambodia to curb illegal crossings and dismantle scam centres ensnaring thousands, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said on Monday.
According to the BP report, the move is part of a wider crackdown on transnational crime networks, many linked to Chinese syndicates orchestrating large-scale financial fraud. The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands have been lured by fake job offers, only to find themselves trapped in forced labour conditions.
Over the weekend, Cambodian authorities handed over 119 Thai nationals to Thai police after a raid in Poipet, a border town notorious for scam compounds. The operation rescued at least 215 people.
Jirayu confirmed that a border wall was among the options discussed at Monday’s cabinet meeting. The Foreign and Defence ministries have been tasked with consulting Cambodian authorities, though Phnom Penh has yet to respond.
Thailand and Cambodia share an 817-kilometre border with many natural crossings. A previous Thai Defence Ministry proposal suggested a 55-kilometre wall along the Sa Kaeo-Poipet section, currently secured only by razor wire.
Though still under discussion, the proposal’s implications for security, human trafficking, and regional relations will be closely watched in the coming weeks.