Internet and cell phone signals from Thailand into Golden Triangle cut

The Thai police and officials have begun cutting off telecom signals sent to areas surrounding the King’s Roman entertainment complex in the Golden Triangle today, and dismantling illegal cell sites along the borders with Laos and Myanmar.

Officials from Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) joined the operation, codenamed “Blasting Bandits’ Bridge,” which aims to disrupt the operations of call centers, many of which are run by Chinese criminal gangs.

It was ordered by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, following his recent visit to the Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai, opposite Myanmar’s Tachileik township.

After the areas in and round the entertainment complex are dealt with, the operation will expand to other areas of ‘no man’s land’ in Laos and, especially, in Myanmar.

An informed police source said that the prime minister has ordered police to arrest Thai nationals who willingly work at the call centres and to bring them to justice.

The officials were also instructed by the prime minister to report to him on the progress of the operation on a weekly basis.

Pol Lt-Gen Tatchai Pitanilabutr, the assistant national police chief, said that all telecom signals sent into Myanmar and Laos from border areas will be terminated, to prevent call centre scam gangs cheating people out of money.

He said immigration officials at border checkpoints have been instructed to tighten up on the screening of Thai nationals travelling to Myanmar.

According to the NBTC, over two million cell phone numbers, suspected of being used by call centre gangs and for other illegal purposes, have been cancelled and 179 cell sites in nine provinces have been disabled. 33 individuals have also been charged with providing internet and cell phone services to Myanmar illegally.

During the “Blasting Bandit’s Bridge” mission, para-military rangers uncovered a subterranean internet cable, about 11.5km long, stretching into Myanmar from Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai.