Bangkok: The Prime Minister has scheduled a meeting for Monday to address the growing threat of online crimes, highlighting the contrast between improvements in the West and worsening conditions in the East. The meeting aims to evaluate and reform security strategies, including the travel patterns of criminal groups following adjustments to checkpoint timings.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Prime Minister has prioritized the national policy to combat call centers, scammers, and online gambling. These activities are seen as significant threats to national security. Mr. Prasert Chantarawongthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, reported a decrease in such crimes following changes to the Thai-Cambodian border operations earlier this month.
A recent UN report identified Cambodia as a global hub for cybercrime, surpassing Myanmar as the primary regional base for call center gangs. The report indicates a shift in criminal activities, with eastern regions of Thailand experiencing a resurgence of such threats due to evolving tactics employed by these groups.
Mr. Jirayu emphasized the need for a national agenda to prevent any further threats to national security. The government is determined to protect Thai citizens from fraud and exploitation by transnational criminal organizations.
On June 23, 2025, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, will lead discussions on border-related crime prevention. The agenda includes addressing drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and other crimes threatening national security across Thailand's borders.
After a successful crackdown on call center operations along the Thai-Myanmar border, which saw an 80% reduction in crimes, security agencies have observed a shift in criminal methods. Criminals are reportedly bypassing border checkpoints by using nearby airports like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The government plans decisive actions to counter these tactics in the upcoming meeting, ensuring the protection of its citizens from these evolving criminal threats.