LRAD crowd-control device deployed at Thai-Cambodian border
A Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a tactical sound amplification system, recently caused confusion among Cambodians when some covered their noses instead of their ears, believing fake news that Thailand was using poison gas.
The incident occurred after Cambodians, who had long encroached on Thai territory, tore down barbed-wire fencing near Ban Nong Chan village in Sa Kaeo province, sparking a chaotic confrontation.
During live broadcasts from the scene, the sound of the LRAD was heard, leading to panic and misinformation online.
LRADs are advanced crowd-control devices that emit high-intensity sound waves. They can generate frequencies loud enough to induce headaches, nausea or temporary hearing discomfort, but they are not designed to cause permanent ear damage.
At full capacity, LRADs can reach 151 decibels, allowing authorities to disperse crowds more effectively than with tear gas or rubber bullets, while remaining within international standards of non-lethal force.
The system can transmit sound clearly over a distance of up to 3,000 metres and can be directed with pinpoint accuracy towards specific targets. Its primary purpose is deterrence—warning trespassers and dispersing gatherings—while minimising long-term harm and human-rights concerns.
The First Army Area deployed the device in Sa Kaeo as a proportional response under crowd-control measures. Since the Cambodian intruders were unarmed but used improvised objects such as sticks and stones, the LRAD was deemed a suitable non-lethal tool for restoring order.
