Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to cracking down on scam operations, declaring the issue no longer merely a national concern but a pressing regional and global agenda item.
He stressed that Thailand must actively contribute to international efforts to suppress scam syndicates ‘by every possible means and in all forms’.
In just the first week of his administration, authorities have made big progress, he said. The Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society had arrested 37 individuals linked to scam networks, Mr Anutin said.
The prime minister also added the first meeting of the committee on the prevention and suppression of technology-related crime would be held on Monday, where state agencies would be assigned specific responsibilities to build on existing efforts.
Responding to online rumours that South Korea would name seven Thai politicians with alleged links to Cambodian scam syndicates, Mr Anutin said the Foreign Ministry was verifying the facts and pledged prosecution if evidence emerged.
‘If there is evidence of illegal activity, prosecution will follow. There will be no exceptions,’ he said.
The South Korean embassy in Thailand on Sunday rejected the reports, which claimed the South Korean Prime Minister had revealed the names of Thai politicians involved with call centre gangs operating in Cambodia.
The issue of Cambodian scams has attracted widespread attention in the past week, including from South Korea and the United States.
‘This report is not true. The embassy will take appropriate action in response to this fake news,’ its statement read.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat also dismissed the claim as false. He said the Thai Embassy in Seoul had verified the matter and found no basis for the allegations.
‘There has been no statement or official source from the South Korean government providing such information,’ he said.
Mr Siripong said the suppression of scam syndicates and transnational crime is one of the government’s four most urgent policy priorities, as declared before Parliament. The law, he said, will be enforced rigorously and without exception.
Meanwhile, former politician Chuvit Kamolvisit urged Mr Anutin to elevate the fight against scams to ‘national agenda’ status, criticising what he described as the current ‘silent agenda’.
Mr Chuvit warned that failure to act decisively could undermine public trust and erode political support for the administration in future elections.