Thailand is considering the construction of a border wall with Cambodia to curb illegal crossings and dismantle scam centres that have ensnared thousands of victims, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said on Monday, according to a BP report.
The initiative is part of a broader crackdown on criminal networks operating just outside Thailand’s borders, which are responsible for large-scale financial fraud. Many of these operations, often run by Chinese crime syndicates, have been linked to forced labour and human trafficking. According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of people, lured by false job promises, have been held in virtual slavery by these syndicates in recent years.
At the weekend, Thai police received 119 Thai nationals from Cambodian authorities after a raid in Poipet, a border town notorious for scam compounds. At least 215 people were rescued during the operation.
Jirayu confirmed that the wall was among the options discussed at Monday’s cabinet meeting. He said the Foreign and Defence ministries had been assigned to engage in discussions with Cambodian authorities about the proposal. The Cambodian government has not yet responded to the plan.
Thailand and Cambodia share an 817-kilometre border, with many natural crossings. The Thai Defence Ministry had previously proposed a 55-kilometre wall along the porous Sa Kaeo-Poipet section, which is currently secured only by razor wire.
While the wall remains a proposal, its potential impact on border security, human trafficking, and diplomatic relations is likely to be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
