The Prime Minister of Thailand has stepped up efforts to combat international crime, particularly concerning call center scams, following discussions with Cambodian officials. During her visit to the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint, Prime Minister Phaetongtarn Shinawatra observed immigration controls and highlighted the significance of enhanced collaboration with neighboring Cambodia to address the issue. Aside from offering her gratitude to Cambodian authorities, she made it clear on February 28, 2025, the necessity of ensuring the safety of its citizens, especially those affected by these fraudulent activities.
Prime Minister Shinawatra noted the volume of people crossing the border at this checkpoint, estimating around 20,000 daily movements, necessitating more rigorous immigration checks to prevent illegal activities such as drug trafficking, especially after the detection of cocaine smuggling attempts. To this end, she has proposed to acquire advanced X-ray machines for more effective customs operations. Currently, the project aims to procure four machines to assist customs officials with border screening.
During her visit, she engaged with Cambodian officials, encouraging mutual cooperation on border security and expressing her appreciation for their continued efforts. “I hope all can work together, both sides of the border, to assist and protect our citizens,” she said.
Accompanying her was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, who expressed concern over the technology used to maintain internet and cell signal reliability at this sensitive border post. Discussions soon shifted to concerns surrounding online scams. The prime minister emphasized how organized crime networks, particularly call center scams, were endangering socio-economic stability. “These criminal networks are interconnected and have severe repercussions for our economy and society,” she urged, demanding comprehensive coordination among government agencies to counter them.
Since the establishment of the online crime response center, known as AOC 1441, victims of these scams have more avenues for reporting and receiving assistance. The government has expressed proactive support for implementing measures to address cross-border crime effectively.
Throughout the day, the Prime Minister received tokens of appreciation from local residents who gathered at the border to show their support. “People here love you and support you,” some locals offered as they handed her flowers and encouraging signs, reinforcing her commitment to combatting crime and strengthening national security.
Finally, during her trip to the border checkpoint, where she examined internet connectivity, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of not allowing signal interference to disrupt communications for Thais living near the border. She has also ordered checks to prevent any unauthorized installations of signal infrastructure by foreign entities.
Cutting the signal, she declared, was only the beginning of measures needed for ensuring national security and keeping Thai citizens safe. She continued to outline plans to improve processes of sorting and screening crossing individuals, emphasizing proper identification checks and information-sharing between the military and the police.
With the growing challenges posed by fraud and cross-border crime, the Thai government is taking significant steps to address these issues. Prime Minister Shinawatra has called for stricter checks as well as enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries like Cambodia to stem the tide of crime and protect vulnerable communities.