Thai cyber police, in collaboration with prosecutors, raided seven locations in Chawang and Thung Song districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Monday as part of Operation Takedown Scammer Ep.2. This operation aimed to dismantle a cross-border call center network involving a local politician.
One key target was the home of Ms. Rewadee Teeppaibun, 51, known as “Jea Lek,” the deputy mayor of Chandi Municipality, and her husband, Mr. Lin Dan Yang, 62, also known as “Go Yang,” in Chandi Grand Villa Village, Chandi Subdistrict, Chawang District. The couple was not present during the raid on May 13; only caretakers were found. Officers seized company documents, land titles, bank account books, and bank statements for further investigation.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Ms. Rewadee and Mr. Lin on charges of public fraud, entering false data into a computer system by fraudulent means, forming a secret society or gang, and participating in a transnational criminal organization. Another residence searched in the same village belonged to Ms. Atthitaya Teeppaibun, 23, Ms. Rewadee’s daughter. Ms. Atthitaya was also absent, but Mr. Yang, a Chinese national and her father-in-law, was present. Officers confiscated documents and account books for verification.
Another key location was the Jinheng Hotel in Chawang district, where officers arrested Mr. Ayue Mayekoo, 37, on a warrant from the Thung Song Provincial Court for the same offenses. They also confiscated desk phones, routers, and other equipment.
In addition, officers arrested network suspects Ms. Thanyaporn Thongmai, 44, and Ms. Laksika Wongsapatpong, 51, in Chawang district, and Ms. Nattakan Khaikeaw, 23, in Surat Thani province. All suspects were taken to Thung Song police station for questioning.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Kamchamnan, deputy commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), explained that Takedown Scammer Ep.2 was a continuation of Ep.1, which took place in late March. In the earlier operation, cyber police, together with DSI officers, Region 8 detectives, Immigration Police, and NBTC officers—more than 100 personnel in total—raided four targets in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. They dismantled a large Chinese call center gang operating illegally in Thailand, defrauding Thai, Chinese, Russian, and Japanese citizens.
Ninety suspects, including Chinese nationals and Thai and foreign accomplices, were arrested, and various items were seized, including 192 computers, 854 cell phones and SIM cards, 22 signal distribution routers, and 342 bank accounts of couriers. The investigation revealed that the gang was linked to Ms. Rewadee, who owned the premises used by the Chinese call center and benefited from their rental payments. It was also discovered that money was transferred from Mr. Lin’s bank accounts to purchase computers and telephones for the call center and to pay Thai employees. Ms. Atthitaya was identified as a nominee, with her name appearing in companies that served as fronts for the Chinese call center.
Four suspects remain at large: Ms. Rewadee, her husband, daughter, and Ms. Dusadee Sangkaew, 44. Security officials have been ordered to tighten controls and arrest them at the border and natural crossings to bring them to justice.
