Passersby gather on Jomtien Second Road in Pattaya, Chonburi province, at the scene where a foreign motorcyclist crashed into fellow foreigners, resulting in a fatality, shortly before midnight on January 29, 2025.
PATTAYA — A tragic accident in Pattaya claimed the life of a foreign tourist and left his wife critically injured when they were struck by a motorcycle, whose rider was also a foreigner while crossing the street hand in hand. The incident occurred when a Thai driver had stopped his car to let the couple cross, but a motorcycle following behind crashed into them.
The accident took place just before midnight on January 29. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit received an emergency call at 11:30 p.m. reporting a collision between a large motorcycle and pedestrians on Jomtien Second Road in Pattaya, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.
An officer move the big bike motorcycle involved in the fatal collision with a Russian couple to the roadside as evidence for legal proceedings against the rider, January 29, 2025.
At the scene, rescue workers found a damaged KTM 1200cc motorcycle with Bangkok registration plates. The rider, identified as Mr. Artem, 26, and the two pedestrians were seriously injured. Miss Zhanna, 44, a Russian national, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, while her husband was unconscious. Despite rescue workers’ attempts at CPR, they were unable to save his life.
An eyewitness, Akadej, 34, told officials that he had stopped his vehicle to allow the foreign couple to cross the road. However, he then heard a big bike approaching at high speed from behind, which crashed into the tourists, sending them flying in different directions.
Police from Pattaya City Police Station’s Dong Tan subdivision are reviewing CCTV footage and waiting for the motorcycle rider’s condition to improve before proceeding with their investigation.
Tourist Police arrest Russian, Estonian nationals at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan, on Jan. 29, 2025.
KOH PHANGAN — Following orders from Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuek-am, authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal foreign workers on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province, particularly targeting those working in occupations reserved for Thai nationals.
On January 29, Tourist Police arrested two foreign nationals at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan: Vladimir, a 61-year-old Russian national, and Janus, a 50-year-old Estonian citizen. They were caught working illegally as a welder and carpenter respectively – both professions restricted to Thai citizens. Officers seized various equipment including an electric welding machine, electric grinder, pneumatic nail gun, and air compressor.
Tourist Police detain two foreign nationals, one Russian (left) and one Estonian (right), at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan, on Jan. 29, 2025.
Vladimir admitted to working without a permit as a welder, performing exterior steel framework modifications using power tools, earning 1,000 baht per day. Similarly, Janus confessed to working without authorization as a carpenter on exterior building modifications, also earning 1,000 baht daily.
In a separate operation on January 28, authorities raided the Koh Phangan International Church in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, where they discovered an unauthorized school operation. The facility housed over 190 Myanmar children and employed four Myanmar teachers without proper work permits.
Immigration officers and police from Phangan Police Station in Surat Thani Province raid the Koh Phangan International Church in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province on Jan. 29, 2025.
The teachers revealed that the school charged 300-500 baht monthly per student, serving children of Myanmar laborers working on the island.
The foreign workers face fines between 5,000-50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on work permit applications. Their employers could face penalties ranging from 10,000-100,000 baht per illegal worker, with repeat offenders risking up to one year imprisonment, fines of 50,000-200,000 baht per worker, or both, plus a three-year ban on employing foreign workers.
Palestinians who have returned walk among the rubble of buildings largely destroyed by Israeli army bombardments in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, after Israel began allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the heavily damaged area last Monday.(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli official said Wednesday that Hamas will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, and five Thai nationals in the next hostage release, slated for Thursday.
The official named the Israel women as Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and the man as Gadi Mozes, 80. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record, said the hostages’ families had approved publication of their names.
The official did not name the Thai nationals set to be freed.
The release is part of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has paused the war in Gaza in exchange for freedom for dozens of hostages held in the Palestinian territory and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Word of the next round of releases comes as hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are streaming toward the north of the war-ravaged territory to return to what is left of their homes, after being told to evacuate the area earlier on in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Earlier Wednesday, the leader of important U.S. ally Egypt rejected President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Egypt take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza, defying a U.S. president who has shown little patience for dissent from international partners.
A man pushes his bicycle among the rubble of buildings largely destroyed by Israeli army bombardments in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, after Israel began allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the heavily damaged area last Monday.(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Trump over the weekend told reporters that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, an idea that has long been rejected by those countries and the Palestinians themselves because they say it would undermine the notion of Palestinian statehood and foment instability in their states.
Trump said he would urge the leaders of both countries, which are key allies to the U.S. in the Middle East and major recipients of American aid in the region, to accept the idea, saying the resettlement could be temporary or long term.
It is not clear if Trump could force Egypt or Jordan to agree, but he has in his first days in office and on the campaign threatened hefty tariffs against American allies to get his way.
In his first public comments since Trump floated the suggestion Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called the idea “an injustice” which Egypt would not be party to.
In a news conference in Cairo with the visiting Kenyan president, el-Sissi said the transfer of Palestinians “can’t ever be tolerated or allowed.”
“The solution to this issue is the two-state solution. It is the establishment of a Palestinian state,” he said. “The solution is not to remove the Palestinian people from their place.”
He said his government would work with the Trump administration to achieve peace “that is based on the two-state solution” between Israel and the Palestinians.
Trump on Saturday said he would urge Egypt and Jordan to accept people from Gaza so that “we just clean out that whole thing,” calling the territory “a demolition site.”
The figure of a hand is marked with blood on the wall of a bomb shelter located in the Thai workers’ housing section of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel, near the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. The kibbutz was attacked on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants, who killed and kidnapped members of its community. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The 15-monthlong war, set off by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count. The fighting has obliterated vast areas of Gaza, displacing some 90% of its 2.3 million population, often multiple times.
The theme of displacement has been recurrent in Palestinian history and the idea of staying steadfast on one’s land is an integral element of the Palestinian identity. Palestinians fear that if they leave their land, they may never be allowed to return.
Those fears have been compounded by far-right members of Israel’s government who support rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza, from which Israel withdrew troops and settlers from in 2005. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that idea is unrealistic.
Egypt and Jordan have each made peace with Israel but support the creation of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. They fear that the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population could make that impossible.
Egypt and Jordan receive billions of dollars in American aid each year. Military assistance to Egypt and Israel was exempted from a U.S. funding freeze to global aid programs.
A student wearing face masks on a pedestrian overpass with visible smog in Bangkok on January 24, 2025.(KHAOSOD Photo/Yokin Charoenying)
BANGKOK — Chadchart Sittipunt, the Bangkok Governor, has called for expanded legal authority to combat air pollution as the capital braces for worsening PM2.5 levels in the coming week.
Despite recent improvements in air quality, the Bangkok Air Quality Information Center forecast on January 29 warns of deteriorating conditions from January 30 to February 5, prompting urgent calls for action.
“We have submitted 11 proposals to the government on air pollution as these issues do not fall under Bangkok’s jurisdiction,” Chadchart said. The proposals include declaring Bangkok a clean air zone and accessing the Environmental Quality Promotion Fund for improved pollution control systems.
Chadchart Sittipunt, the Bangkok Governor
The governor highlighted several limitations in the city’s current authority, including inability to relocate the Khlong Toei Port, which generates about 2 million truck trips annually, and lack of power to regulate Bangkok’s 13 million aging vehicles.
“Some people complain about the many dark-smoking buses and trucks on the roads. The problem is that the authorities in Bangkok lack the enforcement power to remove them. We can inspect four-wheeled vehicles and issue a 30-day repair notice, but we can’t penalize larger vehicles because the Ministry of Land Transport is responsible. We need more cooperation with the transportation authorities to enforce stricter regulations,” explains Chadchart.
A cat walks on a street with smog visible in the background in Bangkok on January 24, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Yokin Charoenying)
To effectively tackle air pollution, Chadchart has made several requests for additional legal powers, including:
Power to levy environmental taxes
Power to lower vehicle emission opacity limits – Bangkok authorities have determined that even vehicles emitting 10% white smoke should be considered non-compliant, but changes require approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Stricter enforcement of measures against smoking vehicles – Bangkok can only issue warnings and repair orders, limiting immediate action.
Powers under the Land Transport Act – Bangkok’s officials do not currently have the power to regulate public transportation, including the requirement to convert public buses to electric vehicles— – a power that lies with the Ministry of Land Transport.
Many people use the electric train service that the government has made free for 7 days until January 31, 2025, hoping to alleviate PM2.5 dust pollution. (KHAOSOD Photo/Yokin Charoenying)
The city has already implemented some measures, including a Low Emission Zone within the Ratchadaphisek Ring Road and work-from-home initiatives that have engaged 100,000 participants this year. Officials aim to double this number and expand monitoring networks to include schools.
The Bangkok Air Quality Information Center has forecast air pollution in Bangkok for the next seven days. Between January 29 and February 3, 2025, weather conditions will be unfavorable for air circulation, with a sustained temperature inversion at high altitude limiting the spread of pollutants. As a result, PM2.5 levels are expected to remain stable or increase during this period.
Health authorities advise residents to wear masks outdoors, limit outdoor activities, and report smoking vehicles through the Traffy Fondue app or the 199 hotline during the expected surge in pollution levels.
Ethnic Chinese Thais pray at Leng Nuei Yee Temple to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BEIJING (AP) — Lunar New Year festivals and prayers marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield on Wednesday — including in Moscow.
Hundreds of people lined up in the hours before midnight at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in Hong Kong in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the temple’s main hall.
“I wish my family will be blessed. I hope my business will run well. I pray for my country and wish people peace. I hope this coming year is a better year,” said Ming So, who visits the temple annually on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
The holiday — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world. The snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, follows the just-ended Year of the Dragon.
Chinese artists perform a lion dance at the Dongyue Temple on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The pop-pop-pop of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.
Ethnic Chinese holding incense sticks in front of them bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.
Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world’s biggest annual movement of humanity. Beijing, China’s capital, has turned into a bit of a ghost town, with many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied out.
Worshippers visit a temple to pray on the first day of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Traditionally, Chinese have a family dinner at home on New Year’s Eve and visit “temple fairs” on the Lunar New Year to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets from booths.
Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel both in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.
A Malaysian ethnic Chinese family takes picture on the first day of Lunar New Year at Guandi Temple, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of a colorful procession with drummers, costumed dancers and large dragon and snake figures held aloft that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival in Moscow on Tuesday night.
The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as U.S. dominance of the world order.
Visitors shouted “Happy New Year” in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.
Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) and cement manufacturers with fully support to Saraburi Province, government agencies, private sectors, and civil society to present the one-year anniversary of progress of SARABURI SANDBOX, Thailand’s first low-carbon city. The initiative is set to advance efforts in clean energy transition, green industry, and value creation for carbon with support from all stakeholders and international cooperation, advanced technologies, and green financing.
SARABURI SANDBOX is an area-based collaborative effort, driven by the Public-Private-People Partnership (PPP) approach, comprising three key stakeholders: Saraburi Province, TCMA, and FTI Saraburi Provincial Chapter. Led by the Governor of Saraburi Province and supported by domestic and international partners, aiming at transforming Saraburi into a low-carbon city by
fostering collaboration among the government sector, the private sector, civil society, and related industries for various pilot projects of CO2 reduction.
A year of action since the joint declaration of commitment on August 15, 2023, the tangible and significant progress has been made across five key focus areas: 1) clean energy transition, 2) green industry promotion, 3) waste to value, 4) low-carbon agriculture, and 5) green space expansion. The project still continues with collaborative effort of all sectors, including to seek additional green funding to achieve a target reduction of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2027.
Mr. Bancha Chaowarin, Governor of Saraburi Province emphasized the collaborative approach, outlining four key working principles: 1) immediate action, 2) trial-and-error, flexibility and adaptability, 3) respectful dialogue and consensus-building, and 4) maintaining a positive working atmosphere. The Saraburi Governor affirmed Saraburi’s readiness to serve as a lab city for new technologies and innovations, with the goal of replicating successful models across other provinces, leading to tangible greenhouse gas reduction outcomes, and spreading economic and social benefits to the locals of Saraburi. The Saraburi Governor stressed that the next phase requires continued cooperation, particularly policy support from the government to achieve the Thailand Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals.
Dr. Chana Poomee, Chairman of Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) and Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries stated that TCMA, as a representative of Thailand’s leading cement manufacturers and a key manufacturing sector in Saraburi, TCMA plays a pivotal role in this project, is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap. TCMA’s contributions to building Saraburi as the first low-carbon city of Thailand include optimizing cement production processes, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and seeking green fund and opportunities for international cooperation.
Over the past year, the cement industry has made significant contributions to the SARABURI SANDBOX across several areas: 1)Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU): research and development of clinker substitution, leveraging nanotechnology to enhance cement properties. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential for knowledge development, machinery upgrades, investment incentives, and regulatory adjustments to promote the adoption of hydraulic cement-a low carbon cement. These actions can contribute CO2 reduction by over 1 million tons in 2023-2024. 2)Green and Smart Mining: efficient resource utilization, coupled with sustainable land rehabilitation to benefit local communities and the environment. 3) Clean Energy Transition: implementation of waste heat recovery (WHR) systems, increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, and adoption of biomass and refuse derived fuel (RDF) to replace coal through the co-processing in cement kilns. These measures are expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 9-12 million tons per year and mitigate PM 2.5 pollution from agricultural burning, while generating additional income for farmers and promoting efficient waste management to zero landfill. 4) Carbon Value Creation: researching carbon utilization methods, including CO2-to-Methanol. Notably, SARABURI SANDBOX has become the first industrial cluster in Thailand accepted into the Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Chana Poomee highlighted that while significant progress has been made, achieving the goal of establishing a low-carbon city requires innovative approaches, strong leadership across sectors, strong local administration, and substantial international support. Moving forward, increased collaboration with organizations such as the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ), and other global entities will be crucial in supporting energy transition and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) efforts. Dr. Chana emphasized the need for government policies to provide essential support, including knowledge sharing, technological integration, and funding to facilitate meaningful change.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s high-speed rail project connecting Bangkok to China through Laos has achieved significant progress, with the first phase now over one-third complete, government spokesman Jirayu Huangsap announced Wednesday.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Huangsap revealed that construction of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section has reached 35.75% completion. Two sections of the route – Klang Dong-Pang Asok and Si Khio-Kut Chik – have been fully constructed, while ten additional contracts are currently under construction and two are in procurement.
The second phase of the project, extending from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai at the Laos border, is scheduled for completion by 2030. The design phase has concluded, and environmental impact assessments are currently under review by the National Environmental Board.
Mr. Jirayu also outlined five key plans for the Nong Khai-Vientiane rail connection:
Double-Track Railway Project (Khon Kaen-Nong Khai Section):
Currently in the bidding phase, this section is expected to open by 2027.
Improvement of the Friendship Bridge:
The bridge is being upgraded to support freight transport with an axle load of 20 tons/axle. The Department of Highways is studying the bridge’s load-bearing capacity, and the Budget Bureau has approved central budget reserves for emergency expenses to fund the study and construction of additional reinforcements.
Construction of a New Thai-Lao Mekong River Bridge:
Both countries have agreed to jointly invest in the construction of a new bridge, with each party covering costs within their respective territories. The project is currently in the detailed design and EIA preparation phase.
Development of Freight Transport Zones:
The remaining areas from the customs clearance zones are being considered for allocation, with rental prices to be determined according to regulations. The committee is also reviewing the proposal to submit it to the State Enterprise Policy Office for further action under the Public-Private Partnership Act of 2019.
Cross-Border Travel Connection (Tha Na Lang-Vientiane Section):
This section has been completed and is now operational.
The development is part of a broader cooperation between Thailand and China, with progress monitored through the Thai-Chinese Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation. Recent developments include the establishment of a Rail System Research and Development Institute and plans for new freight transport zones near the Laos border.
“This project represents a strategic opportunity to position Thailand as a regional logistics hub,” Huangsap said, noting that the rail network will connect Thai businesses to markets encompassing over 8 billion people globally.
LONDON — An inquest into the 2018 helicopter crash that killed Leicester City Football Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others has concluded that design flaws by manufacturer Leonardo made the tragedy “an accident waiting to happen,” according to statements from the family’s legal representative on January 28, 2025.
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter crashed at the King Power Stadium on October 27, 2018, claiming the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pilot Eric Swaffer, Izabela Lechowicz, Nusara Suknamai, and Kaveporn Punparev.
During the two-and-a-half-week inquest, evidence revealed that the crash resulted from the seizure of a critical bearing in the tail rotor system, despite the helicopter being new and properly maintained. The jury heard that Leonardo was aware of potential catastrophic consequences in the design, which included a single point of failure.
Philip Shepherd KC, representing the victims’ families, stated that a “straightforward design modification” – already used in an earlier helicopter model – could have prevented the aircraft from entering an accelerated spin after the bearing seized. The bearing, which had an expected lifespan of 2,400 hours, failed after just 330 hours of ordinary use.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) discovered three other bearings in similar conditions approaching failure, far short of their expected lifespan. The investigation also revealed that Leonardo had not shared actual test flight data with their subcontractor, showing greater forces on the tail rotor assembly than theoretical modeling had indicated.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, son of the late Leicester City owner, said, “My father trusted in the design of this helicopter. It was Leonardo’s responsibility to make sure the helicopter was safe. It wasn’t safe. It was a death trap.”
He added, “The leader of our family, a caring and devoted husband, father and grandfather, we feel my father’s loss every day. A one-of-a-kind, investor in dreams, it is impossible to put my father into words.”
The tragedy occurred despite pilot Eric Swaffer being highly experienced and taking all possible measures to control the aircraft after the tail rotor failed during takeoff. The inquest highlighted that the crash resulted from engineering failures rather than any pilot error.
The Srivaddhanaprabha family expressed gratitude to Senior Coroner Mason for conducting the inquest and to the Leicester community for their continued support following the devastating loss of their patriarch.
Russian and Ukrainian nationals arrested for operating and working at an unauthorized daycare center are brought for questioning at Koh Phangan Immigration Office on January 28, 2025.
KOH PHANGAN — Thai authorities raided an unlicensed daycare center called “CoolSchool” on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province, on Tuesday, arresting eight foreign nationals in a joint operation by local police, immigration officers, and administrative officials.
The raid was part of the government’s crackdown on illegal immigration, unauthorized foreign workers, and transnational crime. Among those arrested were five Russians, two Ukrainians, and one Myanmar national.
Thai authorities raid an unlicensed daycare center on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province, and found children under the care of Russian and Ukrainian nationals on Jan. 28, 2025.
The key suspects, Ms. Margarita (42, Russian) and Mr. Oleksandr (43, Ukrainian), who operated the facility, face multiple charges including operating an unauthorized childcare facility, running a business without proper permits, and employing foreign workers without work permits. Mr. Oleksandr faces an additional charge for overstaying his visa by 1,086 days.
Five other foreign nationals were charged with working without permits, while the Myanmar national was charged with failing to report employment details to authorities within the required 15-day period.
The investigation was conducted by Surat Thani Provincial Police in collaboration with Koh Phangan Immigration Office and local law enforcement as part of ongoing efforts to regulate foreign-operated businesses on the island.
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.
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.
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
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.
