Infiltration by a bad lotListen to this articleImages of armed clashes along the Thai–Cambodian border have drawn global attention, especially after the Thai military expanded its operations to casinos. To the outside world, Cambodia is seen not only as a destination for gambling and entertainment, but also as a hub of scam operations, human trafficking and transnational criminal networks. In this war, Thailand may hold clear advantages over any conventional conflict given its defence and arms capacity. Taken together, these developments have fuelled concern that transnational criminal networks may have gained access to individuals at the highest levels of Thailand's political and economic establishment. The depth of such infiltration, and its implications for the integrity of state institutions, remain unclear.

Source: Bangkok Post December 21, 2025 23:04 UTC