Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Phumtham Wechayachai, led a team of senior officials to inspect the area of Yala County in Sa Kaeo Province on the Thailand-Cambodia border, to further promote efforts against cross-border crime, especially telecommunications fraud groups. This action was taken following the instructions of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, aiming to strengthen border security, particularly against illegal cross-border activities.
Recently, Thai authorities have implemented power, oil, and network supply cuts in five areas along the Myanmar border, successfully disrupting illegal online fraud activities in those regions. This time, the Thai government is extending similar measures to the Cambodia border, especially targeting areas suspected of cross-border telecommunications fraud.
During the inspection, Phumtham and his team found that Thailand had dismantled several telephone signal towers and illegal internet cables used to transmit signals to the Cambodian side, aiming to completely cut off illegal network connections in the area.
Furthermore, Thai authorities plan to further expand signal disruption measures to cover the Chong Chom area in Su-ngai Kolok County, Narathiwat Province, the Chong Sangam area in Prasat County, Surin Province, and areas in Tak Province and Koh Kong in Cambodia.
According to Sura Li, commander of Thailand's Second Army Region, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is coordinating the disruption of network signals in the northeastern Thai-Cambodian border areas of Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, and Narathiwat provinces, while also strengthening military patrols along the border and natural waterways to prevent illegal crossings.
This series of measures demonstrates Thailand's firm determination to combat cross-border crime, particularly telecommunications fraud. With strengthened border controls, it is expected to further hinder the activities of criminal gangs and ensure the safety and stability of the border areas.
