Hundreds of people in Tachileik have been sacked by online gambling and fraud syndicates after the country cut off electricity and fuel to the Burmese side of the border at 9 am Monday, TNN TV reported Wednesday. As a result, a large number of employees, including many Thais, returned to Chiang Rai via the Mae Sai Port. In order to prevent the transfer of these fraud groups to Thailand, the Thai authorities in the border areas have strengthened controls.
Thai media said that since the Thai authorities took measures such as cutting off power, stopping the supply of fuel oil and cutting off internet signals to Myanmar, there has been a continuous power shortage in the area where the KK Park in Myawaddy is located, the daily supply of fraud base has been greatly restricted, many casinos, hotels at night light reduction, and the park personnel significantly reduced, like a“Dark city.”.
Regarding the duration of the power cut, Thai headline news website reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Putan said on the 7th that it depends on actual results, and that there is an initial plan to set up a 6-month observation period, focus on performance in the first quarter and adjust for actual impact. Putan also said the country needed to root out cross-border telecommunications fraud gangs, an important goal of the Thai measures.
In the multi-party efforts, 61 Myawaddy 6 Myanmar Electric Fraud Park personnel handed over to the Thai authorities, including 39 Chinese. Tachileik’s security forces raided illegal casinos along the Mekong River between June 6 and August 8, arresting casino owners and staff, Thai PPTV television reported, citing local social media outlet Tylie City in Tachileik. Myanmar law enforcement authorities have also stepped up efforts to crack down on fraud gangs and illegal online gambling sites in the surrounding mountains, arresting dozens of suspects.
In a media interview during a visit to China this month, Thai Prime Minister Patten Tan said the frequency of fraudulent phone calls had declined since the blackout and that Thailand would evaluate the effect of the blackout measures. In the future, Thailand is willing to work with China to study the establishment of a working group mechanism to exchange information and work together to solve the problem.
When Lao Energy and Mines Minister Pozay met with Chinese Ambassador Fang Hong on the 7th, he said that Laos has taken measures to limit the supply of electricity to the Tachilek region of Myanmar, and will never allow Laos to supply electricity for any activities other than supporting people’s livelihood, especially electronic fraud and other criminal acts. The next step will be to continue to work closely with the countries concerned and take further measures as appropriate.