Thailand is stepping up efforts to dismantle scam operations and illegal casinos along its border with Cambodia, ahead of the first Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting in over a decade.
While tensions along the frontier have eased, Thai authorities say the situation remains fragile. As part of a wider crackdown on transnational crime, Thai officials are preparing to cut electricity and internet access to known scam centers and illicit gambling zones operating just across the Cambodian border.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information, confirmed that joint Thai-Cambodian troops recently conducted a field inspection at the Choam Bok checkpoint. Both sides agreed to pull back to earlier positions and cover up defensive trenches, signaling a de-escalation ahead of the June 14th JBC session in Phnom Penh.
The JBC, last convened in 2012, was established in 2000 to manage border demarcation. Progress has been slow due to recurring tensions, but Thai officials are hopeful the upcoming meeting can unlock long-stalled cooperation.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Border Threat Prevention Command Center is set to propose a set of targeted security measures, including:
- Cutting power and internet access to scam and illegal casino hubs;
- Blocking goods and equipment linked to cyber and organized crime;
- Tightening surveillance of cross-border activities.
In a reciprocal move, both countries have also slashed visa-free entry periods from 60 to seven days for visitors, with no timeline yet for a return to previous terms.
While some residents near the border remain anxious about renewed instability, the Thai Foreign Ministry urged calm and warned against spreading unverified information that could inflame tensions.
The agenda for the JBC meeting is still being finalized, with Thailand reportedly seeking to address four disputed areas — a proposal Cambodia has so far resisted.
Authorities remain cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that strong diplomatic and security frameworks will be essential to ensuring peace and curbing cross-border crime in the long term.
