Thai gov’t criticized for ignoring call center gangs
BANGKOK, THAILAND—The Thai government was recently accused by the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) of ignoring the existence of call center gangs operating from the Thai-Myanmar border.
Rangsiman Rome, a list MP from the MFP, raised concerns over the government’s apparent lack of action against these criminal networks, suggesting potential collusion with influential figures linked to Myanmar’s casino operations.
During a general debate in the House of Representatives, Rome highlighted the dramatic increase in scam calls from 1.7 million in 2020 to 17 million by 2022, causing financial damages worth 40 billion baht ($1.09 billion).
He pointed out that this figure surpasses the budgets of some ministries, indicating the severity of the issue.
Rome accused the government of turning a blind eye to the problem, possibly due to connections between a coalition party and casino magnates in Myanmar. These casinos, he claimed, are directly linked to the call center scams plaguing Thailand.
Specifically, he named Myawaddy Complex, Sky Complex, Eastern Complex, and another casino owned by a former permanent secretary for defense as part of the criminal network.
The MP expressed concerns that a crackdown on these operations might expose ties between high-ranking Thai officials and the criminal underworld.
“Despite being aware of the criminal operations across the border, Thailand still permits internet connections and mobile phone signals to support these activities. We’ve yet to take any serious action to stop it,” he added.
The MP’s accusations sparked a debate on the Thai government’s commitment to addressing cross-border criminal activities and their potential implications for the country’s political and social stability.
Rome proposed a negotiation model involving China and the Myanmar junta as a potential solution to fight against the gangs.
