Thai police and officials have commenced operations to disrupt telecom signals in the areas surrounding the King’s Roman entertainment complex in the Golden Triangle. They are also dismantling illegal cell sites along the borders with Laos and Myanmar.
This initiative, codenamed “Blasting Bandits’ Bridge,” is led by Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to combat the activities of call centers run by Chinese criminal gangs. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered the operation following his recent visit to Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district, near Myanmar’s Tachileik township.
After addressing the areas around the entertainment complex, the operation will extend to other border regions in Laos and Myanmar. The prime minister has instructed police to arrest Thai nationals working at these call centers and ensure they face justice.
Officials are to provide weekly progress reports to the prime minister. Pol Lt-Gen Tatchai Pitanilabutr, the assistant national police chief, stated that all telecom signals from border areas into Myanmar and Laos will be cut off to prevent call center scams.
Immigration officials at border checkpoints have been directed to increase scrutiny of Thai nationals traveling to Myanmar. The NBTC reported that over two million phone numbers suspected of being used for illegal purposes have been deactivated, and 179 cell sites in nine provinces have been shut down. Additionally, 33 individuals have been charged with providing illegal internet and cell phone services to Myanmar.
During the “Blasting Bandits’ Bridge” mission, paramilitary rangers discovered a 11.5 km subterranean internet cable stretching from Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai into Myanmar.
