Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Government has declared its "3 Cuts" strategy to disrupt scam call centre operations in Myanmar a success, three months after it was implemented, reported local English-language daily Bangkok Post.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on May 8 that the strategy, adopted since February 5 and including cutting electricity, fuel, and internet access to five locations in Thailand - Myanmar border towns where many scam centres are located, led to a significant reduction in call centre activities along key border areas such as Mae Sai in Chiang Rai and Mae Sot in Tak.
"These measures have disrupted the infrastructure sustaining these criminal networks," he said as quoted by Bangkok Post. "The pressure has forced many of these operations to relocate or shut down entirely."
Authorities are preparing a final assessment of the policy's impact in June, with Phumtham indicating that while some displacement of scam operations to other regions has occurred, overall criminal activity has declined.
The Thai government launched its "Seal, Stop, Save" campaign as part of this strategy, which also helps curb human trafficking and drug trafficking operations along the borders. Officials report that arrests and prosecutions have increased by around 60% compared to prior periods, Phumtham said./.
Around 7,000 foreigners rescued from scam call centres in Myanmar
A total of some 7,000 foreign nationals have been rescued from call-centre scam gangs in Myanmar where they had been forced to work since last month, according to Thai security sources.
