The Royal Thai Police (RTP) predict that up to 10,000 foreign nationals could be rescued from call scam centres in Myanmar, as authorities intensify efforts against international crime syndicates located near the Thai border.
Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, head of the RTP’s Anti-Human Trafficking Center and Police Cyber Taskforce, announced on Monday that Thai officials are in dialogue with their Myanmar counterparts under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) framework to identify and repatriate human trafficking victims and victims of call centre scams.
He emphasized that Thailand functions merely as a facilitator; verified victims seeking to pursue legal action against traffickers or scammers will need to lodge their complaints with Myanmar authorities.
This statement followed a meeting at RTP headquarters in Bangkok, focused on addressing the rampant issues of call centre scams and human trafficking adjacent to the Thai border, which included representatives from various embassies and international organizations.
Pol Gen Thatchai reported that participants in the meeting shared crucial information aimed at pinpointing the locations of scammers and differentiating between victims and perpetrators.
The RTP has also launched an online platform to facilitate information exchange with embassies, promoting cooperative efforts to combat scammers and traffickers.
Simultaneously, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that the involvement of China’s Assistant Minister for Public Security, Liu Zhongyi, is a component of a collaborative operation targeting Chinese call-scam gangs based in Myanmar.
In response to concerns regarding China’s actions bypassing Thai authorities in the rescue and repatriation of citizens entrapped by these gangs, Mr Phumtham clarified, “Thailand, Myanmar and China have been cooperating on this issue for two months.”
He disclosed that discussions regarding the joint operation had previously taken place with Liu and Myanmar’s home affairs minister, and another meeting is scheduled to take place soon to assess the operation’s developments.
Individuals rescued from call scam centres are set to be transported to Thailand before proceeding back to China, although they must first complete necessary procedures in Myanmar.
Mr Phumtham confirmed that members of the gangs would be detained as part of the operation.
The anti-scam initiative has reportedly begun by cutting off power, oil, and internet access to pressure the Myanmar government and ethnic groups to take action against scam gangs in the region, yielding promising initial results.
In Kanchanaburi, sources indicated that the DKBA apprehended 86 Chinese individuals suspected of running call scams in Payathonzu township, near tambon Nong Lu of Sangkhla Buri district, on Sunday.
They were detained within a facility linked to an online gambling operation. Sources mentioned that this action is part of the DKBA’s strategy to dismantle scam centres in its jurisdiction by the end of the month.
Thai security officials monitored the operation closely.
