Thai police have arrested six Chinese nationals and seized 100 computers, 286 SIM boxes and 300,000 SIM cards in a crackdown on a Chinese-run call centre gang, operating from a condominium in the Rama 9 area of Bangkok.
Officers from the Immigration Bureau, the Technology Crime Suppression Centre and Huai Khwang police station raided six rooms, located on three floors of the condominium.
One of the suspects, identified as Yang Chun, is believed to be the gang’s leader. Police say that they are still looking for three other gang members, who remain at large.
One of the suspects reportedly claimed that, when he was in China, he saw an advertisement for computer programmers in Thailand, with the promise of a monthly salary of 8,000 yuan, or about 40,000 baht, and decided to apply.
He said that his main task was to replace SIM cards, which were used to open accounts on various Thai and Chinese social media platforms, adding that each SIM card was replaced after 20 accounts had been opened, with Yang Chun allegedly supplying the cards.
Pol Gen Tatchai Pitanilabutr, director of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said that immigration officers became suspicious after several Chinese travellers sought accommodation at this condominium and they sought a search warrant from the court.
According to the police, the gang members entered Thailand about three months ago, using student and tourist visas, adding that some had worked in Laos and Cambodia before arriving in Thailand.
Tatchai claimed that the gang had used an AI program in the registration and the opening of accounts on social media, which makes it challenging fo the police to block the accounts because they can be opened quickly.
All the six suspects were charged with multiple offences, including illegal importation of communications equipment, the setting up of a broadcasting station without a license and working in Thailand without work permits.
