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Thailand is set to suspend electricity supply to certain border areas with Myanmar to curb the operations of scam centres, the government announced on Tuesday.
The move came amid growing pressure on the illegal compounds that have trafficked large numbers of people from multiple nationalities.
“We must take action to cut off the electricity immediately,” said Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. He added that authorities would instruct the Provincial Electricity Authority to implement the power cuts.
According to the United Nations, criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people across Southeast Asia, forcing them to work in scam centres and illegal online operations. A 2023 UN report estimated that these fast-growing operations generate billions of dollars annually.
The issue has gained renewed attention following the recent abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing. He was taken after arriving in Thailand last month and later freed by Thai police, who located him in Myanmar.
Thailand, concerned about the impact on its vital tourism industry, is working to reassure Chinese visitors—a key market for the sector. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the National Security Council would meet on Tuesday to discuss measures to address scam compounds, including power supply cuts.
“What happened has had a huge impact on many Thai people and the image of the country,” she said. Asked when the power cuts would take effect, she responded, “Today, if we talk and it’s clear, then we can do it today.”
On Monday, the National Security Council chief said evidence showed transnational crime syndicates operating in Myanmar’s Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Payathonzu—areas that may be targeted by the power supply cuts.
Myanmar’s state-run Global New Light of Myanmar recently reported that basic infrastructure, including power and internet, in scam centers is provided by foreign sources rather than the Myanmar government, in an apparent reference to Thailand. The report also stated that “foreign organisations” were investing in this infrastructure.
Since October 2023, Myanmar’s military government has repatriated more than 55,000 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, who had been forced to work in scam centers, the newspaper added.
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