Thailand-China Intensify Cooperation to Combat Scam Networks

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Thai and Chinese authorities meet at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters on January 28, 2025, to strengthen their collaborative efforts against call center scams.

BANGKOK — In a significant move to combat transnational crime, Thai and Chinese authorities met at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters on January 28, 2025, to strengthen their collaborative efforts against call center scams focusing on operations in the Myawaddy region of Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

The meeting brought together Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Senior Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Center, and the Director of the Police Cyber Taskforce, and Mr. Liu Zhongyi, Vice Minister of Public Security and Commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of China, along with their respective teams.

Major Criminal Networks Identified

According to intelligence shared during a meeting at the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on January 27, Chinese authorities have identified 36 major Chinese criminal syndicates involving more than 100,000 individuals. These groups are primarily responsible for human trafficking and forcing Chinese nationals into scam operations, resulting in numerous cases of abuse and deaths.

High-Profile Case Drives Cooperation

The investigation into the fraud case involving Chinese actor Wang Xing has become a focal point of the joint operation. To date, authorities have successfully apprehended 20 out of 30 suspects wanted by Chinese authorities in connection with this case. The incident has raised concerns about tourist safety in Thailand, though Chinese officials acknowledged Thailand’s sincere efforts in combating these criminal activities.

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Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot (right), Senior Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Center, meets with Mr. Liu Zhongyi, Vice Minister of Public Security and Commissioner of China’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters on Jan. 28, 2025.

International Task Force Formation

In a related development, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has invited Thailand to lead the Specialized Cyber Scam and Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality Taskforce for Southeast Asia. This initiative will incorporate China’s participation to ensure systematic information exchange and coordinated operations across the region.

Strategic Operations

Thai authorities have implemented the “Bridge Bombing Operation” strategy, which focuses on disrupting criminal operations by cutting off essential utilities including: communication lines and SIM cards, water supply, electricity, and internet access.

The operation particularly targets the Myawaddy region in Myanmar, with plans to extend efforts to Cambodia and the Golden Triangle area in Laos.

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Masood Karimipour, UNODC Regional Representative, meets with Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot after appointing him to head the regional Cyber Scam and Human Trafficking Taskforce at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, January 27, 2025.

Notable Criminal Case Update

The case of She Zhijiang, a Chinese-Cambodian casino mogul currently detained in Thailand, has drawn international attention. While She, who is wanted in China as a top suspect in connection with call center networks, has claimed inhumane treatment in Thai prison, Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong has firmly denied these allegations. The minister confirmed that She receives standard treatment like other inmates, with full access to legal representation and regular medical care, all documented by CCTV footage and medical records.

Enhanced Border Security

Police General Thatchai emphasized that while there is no evidence of scam call centers operating within Thailand’s borders, authorities have intensified border patrols in cooperation with military forces. The Thai immigration system has been empowered to immediately revoke visas and deport suspects, even in cases where formal arrest warrants haven’t been issued.

Future Cooperation

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Both nations have agreed to establish joint working groups targeting Chinese bosses and their Thai managers who collaborate in these criminal enterprises. The initiative may expand into an international coordination center, involving various Thai agencies and other countries in the region, demonstrating Thailand’s commitment to a comprehensive approach in combating transnational crime.

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