In a bid to combat criminal gangs exploiting foreign nationals in cyber fraud operations, Thailand plans to cut electricity to border regions bordering Myanmar.
Thailand is poised to cut electricity to border regions bordering Myanmar in a decisive move against criminal gangs operating 'scam centers' that prey on foreign nationals. This action comes in response to growing concerns about the rise of large-scale criminal operations exploiting vulnerable individuals in cyber fraud schemes. The decision follows a high-profile incident last month where Chinese actor Wang Xing was rescued from a human-trafficking cyber fraud operation in Myanmar .
Xing was lured to Thailand under the pretense of an acting opportunity, only to be taken across the border and forced to work in a call center scam targeting his fellow Chinese citizens. This incident has sparked widespread apprehension among Chinese tourists, who constitute the largest visitor demographic to Thailand. A February concert by Hong Kong pop star Eason Chan in Bangkok was even canceled due to safety concerns for Chinese attendees.Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra asserts that the National Security Council is actively addressing the issue and that power will be cut to affected border areas as swiftly as possible. Evidence gathered by Thai authorities points to transnational crime syndicates operating in key areas within Myanmar, including Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Payathonzu, making these locations prime targets for the power shut-offs. Airports of Thailand (AOT), which manages the country's principal international terminals, reports a significant decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, with approximately 10,000 cancellations in the wake of the kidnapping reports. The Thai government has taken the unprecedented step of releasing an AI-generated video featuring Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reassuring Chinese tourists about Thailand's safety, though the video was generated in Mandarin, a language she does not speak
THAILAND MYANMAR CYBER CRIME HUMAN TRAFFICKING TOURISM
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