BANGKOK, Thailand – Thai authorities have stepped up operations against call center scam networks based in Cambodia, acting ahead of similar moves by South Korea. Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwpan, Deputy National Police Commissioner and spokesperson for the Technology Crime Suppression Center (TCSC), confirmed that information on 62 operational sites has been shared with Cambodian authorities, although progress has been slow.
The move comes as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered heightened international coordination to tackle scammers, including freezing assets linked to major networks. More than 70 million baht has already been frozen in Thailand through the Office of Anti-Money Laundering (AMLO).
Pol Lt Gen Trairong said the Thai police have been actively addressing such operations for years, citing prior coordination with Cambodian authorities during August–September 2024. Thai investigators identified and secured over 160 arrest warrants for individuals involved in the so-called “Phuri Casino” network, which operates both casinos and call center scam hubs.
“Thailand has acted before South Korea and has clear evidence and arrest warrants,” Pol Lt Gen Trairong said. “The challenge lies in the level of cooperation we receive from Cambodian authorities compared to the swift response of South Korean law enforcement.”
Despite occasional delays from Cambodian authorities, Thai police have maintained pressure, ensuring that call center operations cannot move funds abroad freely. Since the establishment of the TCSC, more than 40% of illicit funds have been blocked from leaving the country.
AMLO has also played a key role, freezing assets of dual-nationality individuals involved in the networks, including Pat Suphapa, a Cambodian-Chinese-Thai businessman linked to the LYP Group and the Osamed Resort Casino in Cambodia. Thai authorities continue to verify legal violations and may pursue nationality revocation if illegal activities are confirmed.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong emphasized that reports of South Korean nationals being smuggled into Thailand in connection with these operations remain unverified and are currently only media speculation. Thai authorities are continuing investigations to prevent any illegal entry or activity linked to these scam networks. (TNA)
