THE government is intensifying a crackdown on scammers, online crime and cross- border syndicates, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra set to chair a high-level meeting today.
Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub announced on Saturday that the premier has ordered an urgent implementation of a national policy to counter all forms of call centre scams, online fraud and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
A press briefing by Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong last Thursday was a direct result of measures that were implemented earlier this month.
These included adjustments to the opening and closure of border checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia on June 7.
Since then, statistics show a significant decline in scam-related activities, providing greater protection for Thai citizens from criminal networks.
The government also referred to a recent United Nations report indicating that Cambodia has overtaken Myanmar as the regional centre for call centre scam operations, based on findings by the UN Office on drugs and crime.
Jirayu said that while Thailand’s western border with Myanmar has seen a substantial drop in illegal activity due to actions such as cutting off electricity, water and Internet access to scam compounds, there are worrying signs that syndicates along the eastern border are adapting.
He warned that Thai nationals who knowingly work for these criminal groups are effectively harming their own people.
“The government will not allow national security to be compromised or Thai citizens to be deceived any longer,” Jirayu warned.
“This issue is being treated as a national priority.”
Paetongtarn will today convene a high-level meeting to address cross-border crime, with a focus on threats to national security such as drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime along the country’s northern, southern, eastern and western borders.
Jirayu said some criminal groups have begun altering their methods after border closures were enforced.
Intelligence reports suggest that Thai nationals previously crossing via border passes are now obtaining passports and flying to nearby Cambodian cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
Syndicates pick them up and return them to border zones to resume illegal activities.
“Following Monday (today) meeting, the government will announce new measures to combat transnational cybercrime and protect the Thai public,” Jirayu added. — The Nation/ANN
