Senior officials from China, Thailand, Myanmar arrive in Myawaddy in joint efforts to combat telecom fraud

Senior officials from Myanmar, China, and Thailand have arrived in Myawaddy in Myanmar to crack down on telecom fraud and illegal online gambling operations, China Media Group reported on Monday, citing Myanmar's State Administration Council's Information Team. 

Since the Myanmar authorities launched a crackdown on Myawaddy's scam centers, they have discovered a large number of foreigners illegally entering the country from neighboring nations. Between January 30 and February 16, they have reviewed and detained 1,030 illegal entrants. The joint task force, composed of senior officials from the three countries, is currently verifying identities and conducting detailed investigations to expedite the repatriation process.

Myanmar has already repatriated some of those detained, while efforts are underway to process the remaining individuals in accordance with legal procedures to ensure their swift repatriation to their home countries.

On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and the visiting Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi met with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, and Minister of Home Affairs, Tun Tun Naung, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

Both sides had in-depth exchange of views on enhancing China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation, and on jointly tackling cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and human trafficking, according to the statement.

When asked to comment on the meetings between Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi and Myanmar's officials, as well as Liu's visit to Thailand, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that the recent serious crimes involving online gambling and scam happened along the Thailand-Myanmar border threaten the life and property of citizens of China, Thailand and other relevant countries, and disrupt normal exchanges and cooperation between regional countries. 

China is carrying out active bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries including Thailand and Myanmar. We have adopted various means to address both symptoms and the root cause and worked together to prevent lawbreakers from crossing borders, so as to jointly eradicate the problems of online gambling and scam, safeguard the life and property of the people, and uphold the order of exchanges and cooperation between regional countries, the spokesperson noted. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry will continue working with competent authorities to direct our embassies and consulates overseas to properly handle relevant cases involving consular protection and help, and protect the safety of overseas Chinese and their lawful rights and interests, Guo said.

Southeast Asian countries have been stepping up efforts to combat telecom fraud. AFP reported on Saturday that a Myanmar ethnic militia was preparing to deport 10,000 people linked to cyber scams in the area it controls to Thailand as part of a crackdown on the illicit compounds.

Authorities in Thailand have arrested 10 Chinese suspects in connection with the case involving Chinese actor Wang Xing and have handed them over to the immigration department for repatriation to China, the Thai police said on Friday, according to Xinhua.

Thailand cut electricity, fuel supply, and internet services to five areas in Myanmar along the Thai-Myanmar border on February 5. 

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as the defense minister, said that online fraud has caused serious harm to Thai citizens and become a national security issue. The Thai government's investigation found that these five connection points are linked to online scam activities, Xinhua reported.

A source from Myawaddy told the Global Times that on February 7, two days after Thailand cut electricity, fuel and internet to five areas in Myanmar, the industrial park in Myawaddy where scam centers are located became erratic, with power outage in some buildings. 

The source also said power generators were being used in the industrial park day and night to provide electricity, adding that he hopes the scam centers will be raided soon.