Southeast Asia, particularly the border regions of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, has emerged as a hotspot for telecom and online fraud since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations reports that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these scam operations. In response, a Thai military delegation recently met with Myanmar's junta second-in-command Soe Win in Naypyidaw to discuss strategies to curb human trafficking and online scams.
The issue extends beyond Thailand, affecting neighboring countries such as Myanmar and China. Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the international nature of the problem.
"This issue is not just about Thailand," – Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai
Efforts to combat these fraudulent activities have led to significant developments. Between October 2023 and January 2025, Myanmar state media reported that over 55,000 foreign nationals, including more than 53,000 Chinese, were repatriated from scam compounds. Moreover, Chinese state media revealed that officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand reached a consensus on eradicating telecom fraud centers in Myanmar during a meeting in Kunming.
A coordination center is anticipated to begin operations by February 2025 to address the proliferation of scam centers. Thai authorities announced plans to establish this center at the national police headquarters in Bangkok.
"This centre (in Bangkok) will work together (with China) to investigate and combat call centre gangs based in Myawaddy, Myanmar, and along the Cambodian border, which involve many Chinese and Thai nationals" – Thai police
Additionally, Chinese authorities plan to set up another coordination center in Thailand's Mae Sot district, a significant hub for scam call centers. While reports suggest that these operations receive support from neighboring countries, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai refuted such claims.
Public pressure is mounting in Thailand for decisive action against scam compounds, especially given the brutal treatment of workers within these operations. The recent abduction and rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from Myanmar have intensified concerns in China regarding the issue.
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