BANGKOK, Thailand – The Thai government has apprehended nearly 30,000 scammers and their ringleaders over the past nine months, seizing assets valued at 24 billion Baht. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the operation as significantly reducing fraud cases across the nation.
Premier Declares Fight Against Fraud a Top Priority
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul personally presented the figures on Monday at the Government House. He emphasized that the suppression of scammers and illegal nominee businesses is at the forefront of the national agenda. He stated that the current suppression efforts have been effective in assisting the public.
“The action has led to satisfactory results. The number of cases and damages have decreased. This shows that suppression mechanisms effectively help people,”
said the Prime Minister, citing the investigators’ report.
29,233 Arrests and 70 Gang Leaders Captured
The Royal Thai Police presented impressive statistics: 29,233 scammers and approximately 70 gang leaders were arrested. Officials confiscated fraud-related assets and cash totaling about 24 billion Baht. In parallel, the government initiated legal proceedings against 1,450 nominee companies used as fronts for criminal activities, indicating the pressure on these networks is yielding results.
Fraud Incidents Plummet by Nearly 70 Percent
The extensive police action has significantly impacted crime statistics. Compared to October of last year, reported fraud cases have drastically decreased by 69.2 percent. The financial damages suffered by victims also plunged by 87.3 percent. Monthly scam calls saw a reduction of over 77 percent. The number of mule accounts also shrank by 83.67 percent, with transactions through these accounts falling by more than 81 percent.
Over 1,800 Thais Repatriated from Cambodia and Laos
The government facilitated the return of 1,862 Thais who had been working for overseas scam syndicates. Of these, 67.9 percent returned from Cambodia, and the remaining 32.1 percent from Laos. Furthermore, 2,489 Thai nationals were apprehended for border crossing offenses, implicated in 1,031 fraud cases. Following the clearing of known scam hotspots in Myanmar, 2,647 illegal foreign immigrants were deported.
Rescue Center Blocks Hundreds of Thousands of Scam Numbers
The government’s Anti-Cyber Fraud Center successfully rescued 862 individuals from the clutches of scam gangs. A key tactic employed against criminals was the blocking of over 300,000 phone numbers. Authorities also blocked 122,840 fraudulent web addresses, with 108,517 of these specifically on Facebook. Officials closed 351,884 mule accounts and secured approximately 3.6 billion Baht in illicit funds, representing about a quarter of the reported financial losses.
Major Raid Against Shell Companies in the South
The state also reclaimed land, with a total of 130 rai of land illegally held by foreign occupants through nominee companies being recovered. The estimated value of this land and its associated buildings is 1.67 billion Baht. On Koh Phangan in Surat Thani, authorities targeted 243 suspicious companies, with 105 facing legal action and 14 already resulting in court verdicts.
Arrest Warrants Issued Against Dozens of Foreigners from Seven Nations
Police obtained arrest warrants for 29 Thai nationals and 67 foreigners in connection with offenses related to the shell companies. Of these, 24 Thai citizens and 41 foreigners have already been arrested. The foreign nationals implicated include citizens from Israel, France, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, South Africa, and Great Britain. Investigations into other suspect companies in Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket are ongoing.