THAI PM VOWS TO ERADICATE CALL CENTRE GANGS

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The Thai government has pledged to eradicate call centre syndicates from the country by collaborating with neighbouring countries to cripple their operations effectively.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra described the ongoing crackdown on call centre gangs as a critical issue affecting the public and promised to intensify efforts to wipe out their networks.

"This is a decisive operation to eradicate call centre gangs, and we will not stop until the issue is fully resolved," she told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of international cooperation in fighting the syndicates and their crimes, adding that the crackdown is a collaborative effort involving Thailand, China, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Paetongtarn expressed gratitude for the strong cooperation from neighbouring countries, adding that Thailand's approach could serve as a model for tackling similar issues.

She acknowledged the global nature of call centre scams and noted that since these operations extend beyond Thailand, the government is prioritising efforts to tackle the issue both domestically and in neighbouring countries.

“Otherwise, we won’t know where to begin. Let’s resolve this issue with our neighbouring countries before moving forward," she said, underscoring the importance of international collaboration.

The Prime Minister also revealed that a trilateral committee comprising Thailand, China, and Myanmar has been established to address the problem comprehensively.

She noted that border areas across 14 provinces have been sealed, resulting in numerous arrests, with significant cooperation from China and Myanmar.

One of the actions taken by Thai authorities was to dismantle signal towers used for illegal activities at the borders.

Paetongtarn said the Defence Ministry also coordinated with destination countries to facilitate the phased repatriation of detainees, ensuring a smooth logistical process.

-- BERNAMA