Law enforcement agencies from Myanmar, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have reached a consensus to strengthen cooperation and jointly combat transnational telecommunications fraud. They aim to arrest the leaders of criminal gangs, dismantle fraud centers, and coordinate the rescue of trapped victims.
According to China Central Television, the Lancang-Mekong Law Enforcement Cooperation Center held a summary meeting of the "Seagull" joint operation in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Representatives from the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, Chinese Ministry of Public Security, Lao Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Defense, Myanmar Ministry of Interior, Royal Thai Police, Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, and several international organizations attended the meeting.
From August to December 2023, the "Seagull" joint operation cracked more than 160 cases of telecommunications fraud, arrested over 70,000 suspects, and successfully rescued more than 160 victims.
The meeting representatives unanimously decided to continue strengthening transnational cooperation and deepen the crackdown on cyber fraud and its derivative crimes. This year, the countries will launch the second round of the "Seagull" joint operation, committed to further combating telecommunication fraud and rescuing trapped individuals.
As cyber fraud and human trafficking activities become increasingly rampant in the Indochina Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on January 16 for relevant countries to take strong measures to jointly address these crimes.
Additionally, Myanmar's official media, the Global New Light of Myanmar, recently published an editorial revealing that since October 2023, the Myanmar military government has arrested and deported over 55,000 foreign fraudsters, most of whom are from China, with others from Vietnam and Thailand.
The Myanmar military government emphasized that these criminals are not Myanmar citizens but illegal entrants from neighboring countries, and called for strengthened cooperation to combat cross-border fraud activities.
Meanwhile, Thailand has also become a hotspot for transnational telecommunications fraud and human trafficking. Thai Senator Wan Chai raised a warning in parliament, stating that China's visa exemption policy has led to a surge in illegal activities, especially near the borders with Laos and Myanmar.
He mentioned that the visa exemption policy has made Thailand a breeding ground for criminal activities, potentially affecting national security and the tourism industry. However, the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sorawong, responded that the government currently has no plans to change the visa exemption policy.
