Army denies smuggling allegations
**B1m paid in bribes per day, MP claims
published : 23 Jul 2022 at 05:00
writer: Wassana Nanuam
The Royal Thai Army has denied a claim by an opposition MP that soldiers along the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo are involved in the illegal smuggling of contraband and migrant workers across the border.

During the censure debate against the government yesterday, Seri Ruam Thai Party MP Wirat Warotsirin accused Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also serves as defence minister, of failing to protect the country's territorial sovereignty.

Mr Wirat alleged that some soldiers from the 1st Army were involved in corruption which took place on Sripen Road along the Thai-Cambodian border in tambon Parai in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.

The area is prone to the smuggling of contraband and migrant workers, he claimed while adding that there are 12 border checkpoints in front of the 1206 Army Ranger unit about 5-6 kilometres away from the border.

"At least 1 million baht is thought to be generated daily**," Mr Wirat claimed, referring to alleged bribe-taking.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2352107/

**Approximately US$27,250

This needs to be stomped out immediately!! We can't allow corruption to get into the pure, pristine country of Cambodia.

Only at the border?

On the Cambodian side, border police at Daung checkpoint (Battambang province) into Thailand also deny all allegations of demanding an illegal "stamp tax ", money for an exit stamp needed in order to leave Cambodia legally.

8 mins ago - BREAKING NEWS
Border police deny claim that they levied ‘tax’ on border crossers with valid passports

The Daung International Border Crossing Police Station – who administer the international crossing point into Thailand – have strongly rejected claims by media alleging that immigration officials illegally exacted charges on border crossers.

In a strongly worded letter denying the charges, border police strongly deny that they took the sum of 1500 baht (approx. $41) from people with valid passports

The letter states that no immigration official has ever taken 1,500 baht per person from the people to stamp their passports, as alleged by the Youth Journalists Association.

Also, the location and pictures posted on social media are not within the geographical area of ​​operation of the International Border Police.

The unsubstantiated allegations made by the Association of Youth Journalists against International Border Police officers on social media undermines the honor and dignity of the officers as well as the Daung International Border Crossing Police Station.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501118386/ ... passports/

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:17 pm The letter states that no immigration official has ever taken 1,500 baht per person from the people to stamp their passports

That sounds more like the inflated price some checkpoints like to charge for a VoA, not like the fee for "stamping a passport". So technically, they might well be truthful.