Thailand Cuts Power to Myanmar Border to Crack Down on Scam Centers

Thailand has cut power to five sites in Myanmar, in a determined bid to force the closure of online scam centres that have scared off Chinese tourists.

These fraud compounds in Myanmar's border regions are under the control of criminal syndicates that traffic in foreign workers forced into conducting frauds. It is believed that such industries, spread throughout Southeast Asia, reap billions of dollars in revenues.

Why Thailand Took Action

China has become increasingly worried because most of the victims and many perpetrators of such activities have proven to be Chinese citizens. This made Thailand's National Security Council instruct this week about turning off the electricity supplies.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the power had been cut at the following points:

Two points in northern Mae Sai
Two in western Mae Sot
One point at western Three Pagodas Pass

Whereas Thailand was earning an approximate 50 million baht ($1.5 million) per month from these electricity sales, the move became necessary to prevent the misuse of power for scam operations, drug production, and call centers.

"No one can accuse Thailand now of supporting illegal businesses,"* Anutin said.

The power cuts come with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's visit to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping, in which scam operations are expected to top the agenda.

Fears among Chinese tourists of being kidnapped and thrown into scam centres have resulted in a sharp slump in visitor numbers, particularly in the Lunar New Year holiday.

With China being such an important market for Thailand's post-pandemic tourism recovery, urgent measures were in the works to restore confidence. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai branded the scam centers as a "national security issue."

Final Thoughts

Thailand is attempting to wipe out the criminal networks by cutting power supplies to the border regions of Myanmar so that it may once again be viewed as a safe destination for Chinese tourists.

Stay tuned for further updates on Thailand's efforts to combat online scams and save its tourism industry.