Under pressure from China, Thailand finally cracks the whip on scam call centers

After coming under criticism for many months for failing to act decisively against scam call-centers operating from across the border, the Thai government finally took the reins.

The National Security Council decided at a meeting on February 4 that the Thai Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) will cut off electricity, internet service and fuel supply provided to five locations in the scam cities in Myanmar beginning 9am on February 5, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said.

The decision was made after discussions with all parties involved, following the unanimous conclusion that this issue affects the security of the Thai people, he said.

With an estimated 550,000 cases, the total damage caused by the fraudsters amounts to over 86 billion baht, with an average loss of over 80 million baht per day, he revealed.

A few hours after the decision Phumtham, who is also defense minister, met with China’s assistant minister Liu Zhongyi to discuss the issue of scam cities. China wants Thailand to cut off supply routes to block all possible paths for the scamsters.

“Whether or not the border will be closed, as the Chinese official demanded, needs to be considered, but I told him that any decision on this matter must be a joint agreement, as both countries share common issues,” Phumtham told reporters.

“Thailand's sovereignty must also be respected, and China has agreed to this.”

Meanwhile, there is also the idea of holding a meeting first between Thailand, China and Myanmar to discuss the matter, he added.

Critical visit by Chinese official

The Thai government had dragged its feet for long in dealing with the festering issue, but the visit by Liu appears to have imparted momentum.

During his meetings, Liu had managed to secure an undertaking from the Thai side to crack down on a dozen scammers operating in Myanmar’s border areas near Mae Sot district in Tak province.

The Chinese delegation had four requests when they met their Thai counterparts in the Royal Thai Police led by Police Inspector General Thatchai Pitaneelabut, who is in charge of the anti-human trafficking center.

-The Chinese government wanted the Thai authorities to cut off public utilities, such as electricity, water supply, and internet signals, used by call center gangs operating on the Myanmar side.

-The Thai government was urged to negotiate with ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) governing the Myanmar border areas to release Chinese nationals who were deceived into working there, and repatriate them to Thailand. China estimates that approximately 3,000 - 5,000 such individuals are being detained to work in the scam cities.

-Beijing wants to establish a Thai-Chinese coordination center at the border area in Mae Sot district.

-China also wants the Thai police to arrest Chinese nationals found to be involved in call-center scam activities along the Myanmar border. Chinese authorities believe there are likely more than 50,000 individuals engaged in such activities.

Since 2019, scam hubs near the Myanmar-Thailand border, particularly in Karen State, have become centers for cybercrime, where trafficked individuals are forced into online fraud activities.

Key hotspots include Shwe Kokko, a hub for scams, money laundering, human trafficking, and arms trading. Another major hub, KK Park in Myawaddy, mirrors Shwe Kokko’s role, notorious for forcing laborers into internet scams. A newer hub, known as Chong Khaep, Taizhang, or Tha Chang, has gained attention.

These operations are led by Chinese criminal groups with protection from the EAOs and the Tatmadaw allied Border Guard Force, which remains a key enforcer for many scam centers.

No decisive agency

Before Liu’s visit, opposition MP Rangsiman Rome had called on the government and relevant agencies to cut off power supply and other utilities provided by Thailand to the scam cities along the border.

Thailand's electricity power supply to the scam cities along the border became a controversy for years since the PEA, a state enterprise under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry, claimed that it was authorized by a Cabinet resolution in 1996 to sell power to Myanmar without any acknowledgment of illicit business in the border areas.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he has no authority to cut off the power supply to Myanmar’s border without a Cabinet order.

“Since the Ministry of Interior is the implementing authority, we have been ordered to sell electricity to neighboring countries for humanitarian reasons,” said Anutin, who is also a deputy prime minister. “If there is a reason to stop supplying electricity, the entity that ordered us to sell it must notify us to stop; we cannot cease the supply on our own.”

The Interior Ministry’s responsibility was solely to transmit electricity across the border, but it did not know to whom it was distributed on the receiving end—as that is not within the jurisdiction of the PEA, he said.

Anutin suggested, however, that if the Myanmar authorities requested a power cut, the process would be straightforward, as the matter could be submitted directly to the Thai Cabinet for action.

Electricity supply to Myanmar

In urgent cases, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra could issue an immediate directive, according to Anutin.

PEA deputy governor Pradit Fuangfoo said the PEA earns an average of 800 million baht per year from selling electricity to Myanmar, out of total electricity sales of 600 billion baht. The electricity is sold at the same price as in Thailand, making it a very small proportion of the total revenue, he added.

Currently, the PEA sells electricity to five Myanmar-registered companies in five locations along the border.

They are sold to Allure Groups at Ban Muang Daeng and the Thai Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tachileik, Shan State; Mya Pan Investment and Manufacturing Co via Three Pagoda Pass in Mon State; Nyi Naung Oo Co and Enova Grid Enterprise via the 2nd Thai Myanmar Friendship Bridge-Myawaddy and to Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Co in Ban Huay Maung, both in Karen State.

The electricity supply at the power trading points to Myanmar was conducted with contractual partners who have been granted concessions for electricity trading by the Myanmar government, Pradit said.

These partners have undergone verification for legitimacy and document credibility by the Foreign Ministry, he said, adding that the PEA coordinates with Thai security agencies in the area before supplying electricity to Myanmar.

Upon pressure from China via a request from the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, however, Thailand cut off power supply to Shwe Kokko scam city in 2023.

No urgent plan

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said that the issue was discussed in a meeting of the special task force for managing the situation stemming from unrest in Myanmar but needed more details before making any decision.

The task force which just convened its first meeting on January 31 after activation in late October last year assigned National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad to collect information and opinions from relevant agencies before a decision within a month, he said.

Chatchai said he was not able to make the final decision but would check with the EPA and other relevant agencies before making recommendations to Prime Minister Paetongtarn who is the chairperson of the NSC.

Thailand’s move to respond has been slow. Maris’s task force was the second one since Pheu Thai formed a coalition government in 2023.

The first one, set up during the administration of Srettha Thavisin and chaired by then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara, was able to call only one meeting before the end of the government.

Maris said after the meeting on January 31 that his task force aimed at securing, controlling, and regulating border areas to reduce illicit activities including cyber-scamming, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.

The task force also wanted to see normalcy in the border areas with Myanmar to enable trade and other business activities as usual, he said.

“It is crucial to control the movement of various factors, including people, goods, and resources, to prevent support for undesirable activities or transnational crimes,” Maris told reporters.

“Authorities must monitor and track suspicious individuals to prevent them from using border areas for criminal activities, especially foreign nationals, who require stricter surveillance, control and enforcement measures,” he said.