SA KAEO — Thai authorities on Thursday received 635 Thai nationals from Cambodia, suspected of involvement in online scam operations, for screening and legal action.

The group was handed over at Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district at 16:38 after delays earlier in the day. The transfer followed coordination between the Royal Thai Army and Cambodian authorities under military diplomatic procedures.

Army chief Phana Klaewplodthuk assigned officials to oversee the handover, working with the Royal Thai Police, Immigration Bureau and relevant ministries.

Authorities said all returnees had been working in the same 13-storey building, known as "Building F", opposite Rong Kluea Market in Poipet.

All individuals will undergo a detailed screening process to determine whether they were victims of trafficking or willing participants in scam operations. Officials said each person will be questioned extensively and checked for criminal records before further legal proceedings.

The operation follows a joint Thailand–Cambodia statement signed on 27 December 2025 aimed at strengthening cooperation against transnational crime, including online fraud and human trafficking.

Earlier, Cambodian officials had planned to return about 300 people in the morning, but the transfer was delayed due to a shortage of buses after large-scale arrests of scam suspects overnight, according to officials.

The handover was led by Cambodian police officials, who met Thai authorities at the border.

Thai officials said more returnees are expected as coordination continues to bring back nationals allegedly involved in scam networks.

A father filed a formal complaint at the Dharma Center in Chuang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on April 30th after being solicited for a bribe by a civil service examination official. The man, Phadej, revealed that when his son applied for the civil service exam, an official offered to secure his passing for 300,000 baht. However, his son failed the exam. After the father voiced his complaint, the official returned only 230,000 baht, leaving a shortfall of 70,000 baht. The official claimed the remaining amount had already been paid to district and provincial administrators, a claim Phadej disputed after multiple unsuccessful attempts to follow up. Governor Somchai Leelalamyai of Nakhon Si Thammarat confirmed that no such incidents occurred during his tenure and welcomed media investigation to uncover the full facts.

On April 30, 2026, Kittiphon Taengphiw, acting director of Rayong's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, dispatched a team led by environmental specialist Aphipong Sattaphong to investigate complaints of a closed building covering an industrial waste pile in Moo 2, Phamanikom subdistrict. The investigation confirmed the property is private land under proper authorization for warehouse construction from Phamanikom Municipality. However, the site was previously operated by a company that sorted waste materials and extracted metals from copper slag residue before portions were sold or leased. That company is currently suspended and under orders from the Department of Industrial Works to improve its waste management system following discovery of illegal dumping of waste materials in neighboring areas without permission, which violates factory and environmental laws.

Toxicity analysis revealed the waste contains dangerous levels of heavy metals including selenium, copper, and zinc. The company has been ordered to properly dispose of all residue, though metal slag piles remain on-site. The provincial industrial office has filed charges with Nikom Pattana Police Station, with investigators currently gathering evidence for prosecution. During the inspection, officials discovered additional waste within the construction area and ordered an immediate work halt to thoroughly examine the subsurface soil for any additional illegal dumping. Related agencies will closely monitor the case and pursue decisive legal action if further violations are found to protect the environment and public safety.

The Bank of Thailand received 9 bars of gold weighing 9 kilograms from the merit-making ceremony "Pa Cloth April 12 Ceremony Continuing the Legacy to Honor Luang Ta Maha Bua," in accordance with the late Luang Ta Maha Bua Yanasamphanto's wishes. Deputy Governor Pidit Disyathat of the Bank of Thailand's Financial Stability Division accepted the donation from Phra Raj Wachira Dhamma Gorn Wi. (Khamsad Arunno), the abbot of Wat Pa Ban Perm in Nai Udom District, Udon Thani Province, representing the disciples of Luang Ta Maha Bua Yanasamphanto. The gold from this ceremony was received through the traditional merit-making event and will be contributed to the bank's foreign currency reserve fund. To date, the bank has received a total of approximately 13,139.794 kilograms of gold bars and $10,457,159.63 in foreign currency. (Data as of May 29, 2025)

The top 5 zodiac signs favored by Phra Wesuwan for prosperity and good fortune are: Virgo, Dragon, Aries, Libra, and Sagittarius. Those born under these signs are destined to be self-reliant, working hard without concern for others' opinions, fighting through challenges with determination. According to this period's astrological forecast, good things are returning in new forms thanks to Phra Wesuwan's divine assistance. Whatever you ask for, you will receive—wealth, power, and abundance overflow. This is the time to welcome positive energy, unlock your finances, and receive blessings. For those struggling financially, it's time to make merit and prayers to Phra Wesuwan to open your financial prosperity, dispel all misfortune, bad karma, obstacles, and accidents.

Industry Minister Varawut Silpaarch chaired a policy briefing for the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), announcing plans to efficiently manage the deep-sea port in Chumphon-Ranong while considering the Landbridge project. The port location requires careful deliberation on whether infrastructure should be ground-level or elevated to support cargo transfer via rail, road, and pipeline systems connecting to the Malacca Strait route.

The minister stressed the need for comprehensive environmental impact assessments and cost-benefit analysis, particularly given geopolitical shifts affecting global trade. He emphasized that local communities in Chumphon and Ranong, as stakeholders, must be consulted. Balancing development with environmental protection is crucial—comparing accelerating development without braking measures to inevitable accidents, while only applying brakes prevents national progress.

Varawut assigned IEAT to elevate factory standards within industrial estates as a national model for waste management, wastewater treatment, and air pollution control. Factory operators should gain assurance that international environmental standards protect surrounding communities while facilitating logistics oversight.

Regarding overlapping regulations between the Industrial Estate Act and Factory Act, the minister ordered the permanent secretary to review and resolve regulatory conflicts to streamline procedures and accelerate factory establishment. The government is implementing a One Stop Service policy across the Industry, Commerce, and Interior Ministries to coordinate factory licensing more efficiently, targeting foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction.

"Our main challenge is outdated laws predating my birth," Varawut stated. "The Bhumjaithai-led government prioritizes reforming these regulations so civil servants aren't hampered by obsolete rules. Whatever can be resolved through cabinet resolution or ministerial decree will be expedited immediately."