Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has set a three-month deadline for relevant agencies to make material progress in their efforts to deal with transnational scam operations in Cambodia.
The prime minister chaired a meeting with law enforcement and security agencies today, to discuss such activities, including call centres operating from Cambodia and measures to deal with them, after Cambodia has become a global hub for cybercriminals.
After the meeting, the prime minister told the media that the government is to increase efforts to cope with the security and economic threats posed by organised cybercrime.
She said that several measures have already been taken, which include border crossing restrictions, to prevent gamblers from visiting Cambodian casinos, and the cutting of internet connections.
Halting fuel and energy supplies to Cambodia is also being considered, said the prime minister, although Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced a halt on imports of fuel and energy from Thailand last weekend.
Paetongtarn claimed that the measures already adopted by Thailand have damaged the criminal networks in Cambodia to the tune of an estimated 30 million baht.
Meanwhile, Pol Gen Tatchai Pitaneelaboot, the police inspector-general, said that Thailand will host a meeting of police from 10 ASEAN member countries (ASEANPOL) at the end of July, to discuss the problem of transnational scam operations.
He disclosed that citizens from 36 countries have been recruited to work, or have been duped into working in call centres in Myanmar and Cambodia.
