The Mekong–Lancang region has taken a major step towards coordinated action against the surge in transnational telecom and online scams, with six neighbouring countries agreeing to adopt rapid-response measures to curb criminal networks operating across their borders.
According to Bangkok Post, at a ministerial meeting held on 14 November in Kunming, China, senior officials from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam committed to intensifying intelligence sharing, tightening telecom oversight and strengthening joint enforcement activities.
Thai authorities used the gathering to highlight the scale and sophistication of the threat. Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, assistant national police chief, described scam syndicates as a “cross-border criminal ecosystem” that continues to inflict financial and emotional harm on citizens across all six jurisdictions. He emphasised that Thailand would act with full transparency in its cooperation with neighbours and urged others to match that level of commitment.
Drawing on insights from Thailand’s Anti-Cyber Scam Center (ACSC), which consolidates intelligence from banks, telecom operators and security agencies, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop explained that illicit financial flows from mule accounts often move offshore almost immediately. The ACSC has also traced large numbers of IP addresses linked to fraudulent activity to locations beyond Thailand’s borders. According to Thai officials, many scam centres have been found in border regions and special economic zones, with evidence already shared across regional governments.
To counter these trends, Thailand proposed three measures aimed at improving speed and coordination. The first is the creation of a shared, real-time database of mule accounts, suspicious phone numbers and IP addresses, equipped with automatic alerting systems. The second is the deployment of cyber liaison officers in host countries to enable direct, same-day communication between enforcement teams. The third focuses on stricter telecom controls, including identity-verified SIM registration, limits on SIM ownership, closer monitoring of suspicious numbers and the temporary shutdown of zones associated with heavy scam activity.
“Crime has no borders, and neither should enforcement,” Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said. He noted that joint Thai–Cambodian operations had already resulted in network takedowns, account freezes and the rescue of victims, while reaffirming Thailand’s readiness to share deeper intelligence, particularly with China.
The ministerial discussions also highlighted recent multinational raids, including China–Myanmar–Thailand actions focused on scam hubs in border areas, as well as coordinated crackdowns involving China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. China’s Assistant Minister for Public Security Liu Zhongyi praised Thailand’s “clear, sincere and decisive measures”, signalling growing alignment among enforcement agencies.
In total, the six countries endorsed 21 cooperation commitments covering joint raids, evidence sharing, extradition procedures, asset seizure, annual coordination meetings and cross-border intelligence channels. The group also agreed to expand partnerships with NGOs and launch multilingual public-awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the number of potential victims across the region.
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