(Bangkok, 3rd) The spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister's Office, Rachada, stated that Prime Minister Anutin has made it clear in his policy statement to Parliament that cracking down on transnational criminal networks and fraud syndicates has been listed as a national agenda.
One major outcome is that authorities have already prosecuted Ben Smith, Yim Leak, and their associates, and have confiscated and frozen related assets totaling over 20 billion baht. Meanwhile, investigations are being broadened to other criminal groups based in Thailand engaged in money laundering activities.
Additionally, a major call center scam network on the Thai-Cambodian border has been dismantled, with over 10,000 forced labor victims from multiple countries discovered.
Most of these victims were lured and then forced to engage in 'romance scams' and investment fraud activities.
The Prime Minister emphasized that all parties 'must thoroughly eradicate call center scam groups and human trafficking networks both inside and outside the border regions. We will never allow Thailand to become a transit hub for these criminal networks.'
As for the latest developments, Thailand and the United States held talks in Washington, D.C. from April 21 (Tuesday) to April 25 (Saturday), 2026.
The Thai side was led by Royal Thai Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, who, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and Ministry of Labor, collaborated with U.S. agencies to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational call center scam syndicates, human trafficking, and cybercrime, with the aim of achieving concrete results.
Both sides will engage in intelligence sharing and develop more detailed mechanisms for cooperation.
In the past year, many Americans have become victims, with total losses exceeding 6 billion USD (about 190 billion baht).
The spokesperson added that from policy to practical enforcement actions, Thailand is expected to raise its human trafficking assessment rating from Tier 2, where it has remained for the past four consecutive years, to Tier 1.
One major outcome is that authorities have already prosecuted Ben Smith, Yim Leak, and their associates, and have confiscated and frozen related assets totaling over 20 billion baht. Meanwhile, investigations are being broadened to other criminal groups based in Thailand engaged in money laundering activities.
Most of these victims were lured and then forced to engage in 'romance scams' and investment fraud activities.
The Prime Minister emphasized that all parties 'must thoroughly eradicate call center scam groups and human trafficking networks both inside and outside the border regions. We will never allow Thailand to become a transit hub for these criminal networks.'
As for the latest developments, Thailand and the United States held talks in Washington, D.C. from April 21 (Tuesday) to April 25 (Saturday), 2026.
The Thai side was led by Royal Thai Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, who, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and Ministry of Labor, collaborated with U.S. agencies to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational call center scam syndicates, human trafficking, and cybercrime, with the aim of achieving concrete results.
Both sides will engage in intelligence sharing and develop more detailed mechanisms for cooperation.
In the past year, many Americans have become victims, with total losses exceeding 6 billion USD (about 190 billion baht).
The spokesperson added that from policy to practical enforcement actions, Thailand is expected to raise its human trafficking assessment rating from Tier 2, where it has remained for the past four consecutive years, to Tier 1.