Crackdown on crime threat to Thailand: border security measures to tighten

MAXIMUM BORDER REINFORCEMENT, AMID THE RECENT THREAT OF TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES

The second committee meeting on the prevention and resolution of threats to the security of people along border areas was held on Saturday, chaired by defence minister — and also chair of the National Security Council — Phumtham Wechayachai.

During the meeting, officials evaluated the security situation after a ban on fuel exports, electric supplies and telecommunication signals to areas of Myanmar suspected to host cyber criminals and human traffickers, among other things.

They also discussed creating a legal advisory committee to support the work of the main committee, as well as specialised job centres to address particular threats ranging from drug trafficking on land, sea and through the air.

Mr Phumtham later announced at a briefing that there would be no lightening of electricity, internet and fuel restrictions for Myanmar, saying that it is necessary as such networks of criminals remain in operation in some parts of the neighbouring country.

The effort is in line with the government strategy to clamp down on transnational crimes.

Mr Phumtham added call centre scam operations have been moving from Myawaddy, Myanmar, to other areas of in Cambodia and Vietnam.

He added that Thailand had contacted Cambodia’s national defence and interior ministers and also Laos authorities to encourage better cooperation.

On a proposal for five districts in Tak province, which borders Myanmar, to be declared special security zones, Mr Phumtham said discussions must be held initially to evaluate the economy and feasibility of the measure.

He said the country from where the hub of such scams operates in should also take an initiative for a collaborative effort to solve the problem of such scams in the long term.