A top Chinese official reported that Myawaddy city in Myanmar is home to 36 major call-center gangs operated by Chinese, employing over 100,000 individuals who engage in making fraudulent calls to dupe people out of money.
Liu Zhongyi, the Chinese assistant minister of public security, along with his delegation, visited the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in Nonthaburi on Monday. They sought assistance from bureau chief Pol Lt-General Trairong Phiwpan to combat these scams.
The assistant minister highlighted that many Chinese nationals have been tricked or coerced into working for these criminal organizations in Myanmar, with reports of some being assaulted and others losing their lives.
The incident involving Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was recently rescued after being deceived into traveling to Myanmar for a non-existent casting audition, has significantly heightened safety concerns, discouraging many from visiting Thailand, Liu Zhongyi stated.
The delegation urged the CCIB to prioritize arresting the leaders of these scam operations residing in Thailand and to capture about 20 suspects linked to the Wang Xing case for extradition to China.
Furthermore, the delegation requested that the Thai authorities identify and help secure the release of Chinese victims still detained in Myanmar by exerting pressure for their quick release.
They also requested that Thailand cut off the financial and operational networks supporting these scam operations and proposed the creation of a Thai-Chinese coordination center to bolster efforts in dismantling call-center scams.
In response, the CCIB proposed that both countries share intelligence on the activities of these scam gangs, particularly concerning human trafficking and money laundering.
The bureau also suggested that China organize a regional conference with Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia to address the issue collaboratively and sustainably.
Pol Lt-General Trairong affirmed the CCIB’s readiness to implement the delegation’s recommendations and committed to working with other relevant bodies to disrupt the operations and resources of these criminal gangs.
