Surin: Urgent assistance is being provided to Thai citizens after they were arrested by Cambodians for illegal immigration. The 2nd Army Region has dispatched a Thai-Cambodian border liaison team to investigate and prepare assistance for Thai citizens arrested by Cambodia for illegally entering the country. It is suspected they were foraging for forest products along the border near Chong Taleng and then walked deeper into the area near a Cambodian base. Urgent coordination is underway to provide assistance.
According to Thai News Agency, on May 10, 2026, the 2nd Army Region received a report from the Suranaree Task Force regarding the arrest of a Thai man by Cambodian soldiers after he illegally crossed the border at Chong Taleng, Kab Choeng District, Surin Province, to forage for forest products. He had been missing for over 15 days, causing great concern to his family. The case stemmed from a Facebook post by “Wiparat Thongsaysorn” shared on April 30, 2026, seeking a relative who had gone into the forest along the border at Chong Taleng and had been missing for 4-5 days. Security agencies including the military, police, and local administration dispatched a team to investigate the missing man’s hometown. He was identified as Mr. Yot Sainoi, 58 years old, a resident of Village 7, Kantru Ramuan Subdistrict, Prasat District, Surin Province, who worked as a forest forager. He left home on April 25, 2026, at approximately 6:00 PM, on a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle with license plate Khgt 772 Surin, before disappea
ring without a trace.
Relatives stated that Mr. Yot usually went into the forest for only 1-2 days before returning home, leading them to believe that an unexpected incident may have occurred, or that he may have been detained by Cambodian authorities. His wife, Mrs. Kannika Homkhajorn, filed a missing person report at the Kab Choeng Police Station on April 29th, requesting assistance in the search. On May 4th, 2026, the Suranaree Task Force received information from local police and promptly coordinated with the Cambodian side through Colonel Pov Pheng, head of the Cambodian-Thai liaison unit in the Or Semet area. The Cambodian side confirmed that Mr. Yot had illegally entered Cambodia and was arrested for illegal immigration. He was subsequently prosecuted in Udon Meanchey Province.
Reporters said that the commander of the 2nd Army Region has instructed the commander of the Suranaree Task Force to use the border coordination mechanism to urgently coordinate with the Cambodian military to provide assistance as soon as possible. The Suranaree Task Force stated that they recently received a request for assistance from the family and subsequently verified that Mr. Yot had indeed been arrested. Repatriation to Thailand is currently being coordinated to proceed according to the relevant laws and regulations between the two countries.
Major General Boonserm Boonbamrung, Commander of the Suranaree Task Force, stated that after receiving information from local police and the Facebook page of “Khun Aor Pairach” regarding a missing person in Prasat District, approximately 40 kilometers from the border, the Suranaree Task Force promptly contacted the Thai-Cambodian border coordination unit. The Cambodian side promised to investigate. This morning, the Cambodian coordination unit called to inform them that the missing Thai national was found in Udon Mechai Province, Cambodia, and was safe. Upon receiving this information, he ordered the Thai border coordination center, along with local administrative officials, village headmen, and police officers, to immediately travel to inform the family of the missing person, reassuring them of their safety and alleviating their concerns.