Thailand and China have pledged to collaborate in combating the rapidly growing networks of illegal call centres operating along Thailand's borders with Myanmar and Cambodia. These centres, often staffed by trafficked workers, are responsible for phone and online scams that defraud individuals on a large scale.

The United Nations has highlighted Southeast Asia, particularly the border regions between Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, as a major hub for telecom and online fraud since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these scam operations, which exploit vulnerable populations.

To address this issue, Thai police announced plans to establish a coordination centre at the national police headquarters in Bangkok. Additionally, Chinese authorities will set up a centre in Thailand's Mae Sot district, near Myanmar's Myawaddy, a region identified as a key hotspot for scam call centres. These initiatives aim to strengthen bilateral efforts in cracking down on these fraudulent networks and protecting victims of human trafficking.

"This centre (in Bangkok) will work together (with China) to investigate and combat call centre gangs based in Myawaddy, Myanmar and along the Cambodian border, which involve many Chinese and Thai nationals," the Thai police said.

"The coordination centre is expected to commence operations within February 2025," said the statement, which came after a meeting of Thai and Chinese security officials in Bangkok.

Public outrage in Thailand has been mounting, urging authorities to intensify efforts against scam compounds where workers, lured from across the globe, face brutal treatment and exploitation. This issue has also alarmed China, particularly after the high-profile abduction and cross-border rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from Myanmar, which brought renewed attention to the dangers posed by these criminal networks.

In a significant development, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday that officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand had reached a consensus to eradicate telecom fraud centres in Myanmar. The agreement was made during a trilateral meeting in the Chinese city of Kunming, signalling a unified commitment to tackling this transnational issue.

The recent surge in anti-scam efforts also saw a meeting between a Thai military delegation and Myanmar’s junta deputy leader, Soe Win, in Naypyidaw. According to Myanmar state media, the discussions focused on cracking down on human trafficking and online scams, further underscoring the region’s determination to address the growing menace of illegal call centres and associated crimes.

The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported this week that junta authorities had repatriated over 55,000 foreign nationals from scam compounds to their home countries between October 2023 and January 2025. Among those returned, more than 53,000 were identified as Chinese nationals, highlighting the extensive cross-border nature of these operations.

The report also alleged that scam operations received support from Myanmar’s neighbouring countries. However, this claim was firmly denied by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Thursday, who rejected the suggestion of any complicity by Thailand or other nations in enabling these fraudulent activities. The statement underscores the ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding regional cooperation to dismantle the scam networks.

"This issue is not just about Thailand," said Phumtham, "it is something where Myanmar and China also have to help."