PM approves cutting off power, fuel to scammers in Myanmar

Thai and Chinese officials look at an economic zone in Myawaddy of Myanmar from a border area in Mae Sot district, Tak, late last month. Chinese officials paid a visit amid their concern about scams near the Thai border. (Photo: Assawin Pinitwong)
Late last month, Thai and Chinese officials visited an economic territory in Myawaddy of Myanmar from a frontier zone in the Tak area. In response to concerns about schemes near the Thai borders, Chinese leaders paid a visit. ( Photo: Assawin Pinitwong )

Call-scam groups operating in Myanmar close to the Thai frontier now have access to fuel and electricity, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

The offer may be immediately cut off, according to Ms. Paetongtarn on Tuesday, when there is compelling evidence that scammers are profiting from Thailand’s supply of power and fuel.

Some rural areas in Myanmar that are close to the Thai border even rely on Thailand for fuel and electricity.

” We must take care of our people”, the prime minister said.

The scam groups ‘ activities had a significant impact on Thai citizens and the country’s reputation.

” This requires serious measures … which can be imposed at once … This is a serious matter … &nbsp, which really concerns every country”, Ms Paetongtarn said.

Asked when the offer may be disconnected, Ms Paetongtarn said,” It can be done immediately. If debate come to a distinct realization, it can be cut off today”.

The Provincial Electricity Authority, according to deputy prime minister and defense secretary Phutham Wechayachai, had immediately shut down the country’s power supply if it was threatening national security.

According to him, the provide contracts allowed the PEA to either lower or unplug it in the name of national security.

” From June 2022 to June 2024, more than 500, 000 Thai people fell victim]to scam gangs ] and lost over 60 billion baht … I think that a gradual decrease in the power supply would be too slow, because the problem is already severe”, Mr Phumtham said.

” Today I will tell the NSC]National Security Council ] to inform the PEA that this issue is critical and the supply of power]to scammers ] must be ended right away”, he said.

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Thai cabinet approves Korat-Nong Khai high-speed rail

By 2030, the implementation of the second phase will enable smooth journey from Bangkok to China.

A Fuxing Hao CR300 train made by CRRC Corp, the Chinese state-owned company that is the world’s largest supplier of rail transit equipment, is expected to be used on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed line. (Photo supplied)
A Fuxing Hao CR300 coach made by CRRC Corp, the Taiwanese state-owned business that is the world’s largest provider of road travel gear, is expected to be used on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed range. ( Photo supplied )

The government on Tuesday gave an official approval for the second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed coach line, which runs from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, for an investment of about 340 billion ringgit.

The line had connect to the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima second step, which is currently being built, allowing for quick journey from the Thai funds to Yunnan in China via Laos, where a high-speed range is already in operation.

As of last month, structure of the first-phase part was about 36 % full, many years behind schedule.

Due to disagreements over funding, contractors having profitability issues, the pandemic, and a controversy surrounding the Ayutthaya station’s construction, which conservationists claimed could have an impact on a Unesco World Heritage site, there have been delays.

The government expects bids for the 357-kilometer following phase this week, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who stated last week that construction would be finished by 2030.

The following phase’s acceptance comes one day before Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s first official visit to China.

The prime minister will use the visit, according to government official Jirayu Huangsab, to encourage participation on financial, trade, and expense issues during her journey.

According to Mr. Jirayu, Ms. Paetongtarn wants to accelerate the development of long-term purchase partnerships, particularly in those that are crucial for green and electric change in Thailand, such as electric vehicles, semiconductor manufacturing, and data centers.

The prime minister also requested that the government give more weight to product standards, quality, and safety, especially those for agriculture and food. This comes after China rejected supplies of Thai durian and sugar syrup. Although the edible problem has been resolved, syrup shipments for hundreds of millions of baht still remain blocked.

Ms Paetongtarn also reiterated the president’s increased focus on security measures for tourists, saying she would not let international gangs, especially call center scams, apply Thailand as a transport point, said the spokesman.

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Narrow escape for bombed police-truck family

The black Toyota pickup (centre) was damaged by the bomb explosion at Si Sakhon police station in Si Sakhon district, Narathiwat, on Tuesday morning. (Photo supplied)
The black Toyota pickup (centre ) was damaged by the bomb blast at Si Sakhon police station in Si Sakhon city, Narathiwat, on Tuesday night. ( Photo supplied )

A police officer parked his pick at Si Sakhon city police station after taking his children to school and his family to work, where a weapon that was hidden beneath it quickly detonated.

Pol Sgt Maj Sulkiflee Jehmama, 32, was the owner of the bombed dark Toyota delivery.

According to a police cause, he used the car to get his two children to school and his family to a hospital on Tuesday evening after parking it at home on Monday evening. He then drove his car to the Sri Sakhon authorities depot, where he parked and left it.

At some level, a weapon had been placed underneath the vehicle, in a back wheel cover. It exploded about 9am, perhaps detonated by a clock.

No one was in the vicinity of the car at the time, and no injuries were reported.

As the investigation progressed, authorities were looking through tapes from surveillance cameras and hoping to find out more.

Another car was suffocated in flames at a parking lot in Yi Ngo area about 9.20 am. The cause of the fire was still being investigated.

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B5m gold heist in Pathum Thani mall

Police question two employees of the Aurora gold shop after the robbery in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani, on Monday. (Photo: Pongpat Wongyala)
Police issue two employees of the Aurora metal buy after the assault in Lam Luk Ka area, Pathum Thani, on Monday. ( Photo: Pongpat Wongyala )

Police are looking for a criminal who allegedly escaped from a silver store in a shopping plaza in Pathum Thani state on Monday with jewelry worth about 5 million ringgit.

According to Pol Lt. Gen. Akradet Pimolsri, an associate federal police commander, the Aurora metal factory, which is located on the second floor of the Big C shop in the Lam Luk Ka city, was robbed a few minutes before noon on Monday. &nbsp,

The thief made off with more than 100 baht-weight of gold necklaces, worth slightly over 5 million baht.

Investigators on the crime scene discovered fingerprints that, he claimed, should be useful. Security camera footage revealed that the robber didn’t wear gloves despite being well covered up.

At 11.24 a.m., the robber entered the store with two female employees working, but no customers. &nbsp,

Employee Lawan Orna, 35, said the robber was a man about 160 centimetres tall. He wore a blue long-sleeved shirt, jeans, black-and-white Nike sneakers, a round hat and a face mask.

She claimed that the man approached the counter and instructed her and her coworker to sit down before taking the gold necklaces from the showcases and leaving. &nbsp,

The robber left the store on a motorcycle after grabbing the necklaces, walking away from the store, and then entering the mall.

The employees did not try to resist. According to Pol Lt. Gen Akradet, they did the right thing. &nbsp,

The investigation is continuing.

The robber was seen in the CCTV footage. (Photo supplied)

The robber, seen in CCTV footage. ( Photo supplied )

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Policeman’s pickup bombed, vehicle burnt in deep South

The black Toyota pickup (centre) was damaged by the bomb explosion at Sri Sakhon police station in Sri Sakhon district, Narathiwat, on Tuesday morning. (Photo supplied)
The black Toyota pickup (centre ) was damaged by the bomb blast at Sri Sakhon police station in Sri Sakhon city, Narathiwat, on Tuesday night. ( Photo supplied )

In separate incidents this southern frontier province on Tuesday night, a small bomb planted inside a policeman’s delivery vehicle exploded and a car was destroyed by fire.

At the Sri Sakhon police place in the city of Sri Sakhon, the dark Toyota pick was parked. Around 9o’clock, the violent detonated.

The trailer belonged to a police officer. No one was in the vicinity of the car at the time, and no one had reported any accidents. The exploding was planted at&nbsp, the back of the vehicle. &nbsp,

Authorities thought the bomb was detonated by a clock. &nbsp,

Another car went up in flames in Yi Ngo city about 9.20am in front of a military warrior center. The cause of the fire was still being investigated.

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Hundreds of arrests, gambling den busted in Nakhon Nayok.

Some of the cash and gambling chips worth over 3 million baht seized during the raid on a major gambling den in Nakhon Nayok's Ongkharak district late on Monday night. (Photo: Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)’s law enforcement centre)
Some of the over$ 3 million worth of gambling chips and funds were recovered late on Monday night during the attack on a significant gaming site in Nakhon Nayok’s Ongkharak district. ( Photo: Department of Provincial Administration ( DOPA )’s law enforcement centre )

More than 200 gamblers and bookmakers were detained and chips and money value about 3 million baht were found during a raid by municipal law enforcement on Monday night in the Ongkharak city of Nakhon Nayok.

A 60-strong group of municipal officials raided the betting lair, located in a clean paddy field, about 10.30pm.

Upon entering the premises, the crew found and detained 218 players and employees. Income amounting to 560, 570 ringgit and gaming chips for 2.4 million ringgit, about 3 million ringgit in full, were seized, along with gambling machines. Fifty cars were impoundced.

All arrested people were taken to the police station in Ongkharak for constitutional actions.

The procedure came after complaints were made to the Interior Ministry’s Damrongtham Center and the Nakhon Nayok Damrongtham Centre about a significant gaming den being run it frequently.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the interior minister, set up the assault.

Officials seize gambling chips and cash following the gambling den raid in Nakhon Nayok. (Photo: Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)’s law enforcement centre)

During the attack at the gaming den in Nakhon Nayok, officials seize gambling chips and money. ( Photo: Department of Provincial Administration law enforcement centre )

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Safe air in most Thai provinces

A helicopter is used to put out forest fire in the eastern province of Trat on Monday. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong)
On Monday, a plane is flying over Trat province’s northeast region to stop forest fires. ( Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong )

People in 41 of Thailand’s 77 provinces can breathe freely on Tuesday morning while parts of the North, the Central Plain, and the East still have risky levels of ultrafine dust, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ).

Gistda’s report on the levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) at 8am showed no red levels ( hazardous to health ) of the ultrafine dust nationwide.

Over the past 24 hrs, air pollution levels ranged from 38.6 to 72 microgrammes per square meter in 36 provinces, all of which were unhealthy. The healthy level is 37.5µg/m³.

The highest PM2.5 level ( 72µg/m³ ) was recorded in Sukhothai, followed by 67.8µg/m ³ in Trat, 67.4 in Phrae, 66.7 in Kamphaeng Phet, 58.1 in Lampang, 58 in Uttaradit, 57.2 in Phitsanulok, 55.8 in Nan, 52.5 in Tak, 48.5 in Phayao, 48.2 in Pathum Thani, 47.9 in Nakhon Nayok, 47.4 in Ayutthaya, 47 in Sing Buri, 46.8 in Chachoengsao, 46.6 in Uthai Thani, 46.1 in Prachin Buri, 45.8 in Ang Thong, 45.7 in Saraburi, 45.5 in Lamphun, 45.5 in Chon Buri, 44.8 in Phetchaburi, 44.7 in Nakhon Sawan, 43.8 in Phichit, 42.3 in Suphan Buri and Chanthaburi, 41.6 in Lop Buri, 40.7 in Chai Nat, 40.6 in Ratchaburi, 40.3 in Kanchanaburi, 40 in Samut Songkhram, 39.9 in Rayong, 39.5 in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 39.1 in Chiang Rai, 38.9 in Bangkok and 38.6 in Samut Prakan.

16 provinces had mild air quality, with PM2.5 levels ranging from 25. 1 to 35. 2 g/m3.

In descending order of PM2.5 degrees, they were Pattani, Yala, Nakhon Pathom, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Chaiyaphum, Phetchabun, Phuket, Narathiwat, Sa Kaeo, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trang, Phangnga, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Twelve regions had fine weather, represented in natural levels of PM2.5 ranging from 17.1 to 24.9µg/m³.

In descending attempt, they were Surat Thani, Khon Kaen, Phatthalung, Satun, Ranong, Krabi, Mae Hong Son, Loei, Chumphon, Buri Ram, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Si Sa Ket.

Thirteen counties in the Northeast had really good air quality, with PM2.5 amounts ranging from 7.8 to 14.7 g/m3.

In descending attempt, they were Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Surin, Kalasin, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Bueng Kan and Amnat Charoen.

On Tuesday night, the Gistda air quality image shows various regions ' levels of color.

On Tuesday night, the Gistda air quality image shows various regions ‘ levels of color.

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Narumon re-elected Kla Dharma leader

Narumon: Voted in for second term
Narumon: Voted in for next word

Narumon Pinyosinwat, minister of agriculture and participation, has been re-elected as the group’s president. The Kla Dharma Party has pledged to not be the side’s lackey.

At its quarterly council on Monday, Kla Dharma people picked Mr Narumon to lead the party for a second word and MP for Kamphaeng Phet, Phai How, as the new group secretary-general.

Capt Thammanat Prompow, a former agriculture minister commonly seen as the group’s father, was named deputy adviser.

Before the current government was formed, Kla Dharma, with 20 MPs, fought with the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) in a disagreement with PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. The PPRP was expelled while Kla Dharma joined the state and received government votes.

Kla Dharma, nevertheless, was accused of secretly operating as a unit of another party, a guide to the decision Pheu Thai Party, given Capt Thamanat’s close relationships to its authority.

Capt. Thamanat defended the group as a steadfast independent entity on Monday, insisting that it was strengthening its political skills to become a power to reckon with.

” Kla Dharma is Kla Dharma. We dare to do as we think, plan and pass choices”, he said.

Capt. Thamanat cited Kla Dharma as the reason some candidates won over the weekend’s provincial administrative organization ( PAO ) president and member elections.

He claimed that the individuals were supported by the group and proceeded to win the election even though they ran as politicians.

However, Ms Narumon said that with a fresh 11-member professional table, Kla Dharma may increase its social activities.

The celebration is even placing a premium on the 2027 general election as it looks to start branch operations and recruit members across the country in order to meet the legal requirements for running as a political party.

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Tougher cyber laws ahead

Additionally, new measures will help victims.

According to Digital Economy and Society ( DES ) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, a proposed amendment to an executive order aimed at combating cybercrime and protecting its victims is expected to be published in the Royal Gazette this month.

Mr. Prasert stated on Monday that work have been intensified to combat tech murder in response to the Senate’s concerns about rising online scams and related financial harm.

Mr. Prasert claimed that the Council of State’s current review of the professional draft does provide authorities measures to combat the crime and assist victims.

Under the proposed article, banks, mobile operators, and social media owners may be held liable for injury from call center scams if they are found negligent or foolish.

Telecom providers and the NBTC ( National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission ) would also be required to suspend SIM cards that are believed to have been used by fraudsters.

The committee evaluating cash trades under the Anti-Money Laundering Act may be permitted to return stolen funds to victims without having to wait for instances to get settled in court.

Criminals could face sentences of up to five years in jail or fines of up to five million baht if they disclose private information without consent.

Regarding surrogate or animal bank accounts, the DES Ministry has been investigating the rights of SIM tickets to get abnormalities, according to Mr Prasert.

The NBTC has been given the instructions to get in touch with people who use more than 100 calls per day and who have multiple SIMs. If their proprietors don’t deliver compelling arguments, SIM cards may be suspended, he said.

By the end of December last year, Mr. Prasert claimed that as a result of the president’s assault on horse records, more than 1.6 million bank accounts had already been suspended for suspected references to fraud. He urged those who had these addresses to email their banks to get them closed, as customers are now subject to stricter customer protection laws to stop the use of proxy accounts for deceptive transactions. Additionally, those found guilty of opening accounts for scammers are subject to severe penalties.

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New plan to combat scammers

50 % electricity cut in the pipeline: DPM

The delegation of Liu Zhongyi, Chinese assistant minister of public security (centre), looks at business facilities in Myawaddy, Myanmar from Mae Sot district of Thailand's Tak province on Jan 29. (Photo: Assawin Pinitwong)
The delegation of Liu Zhongyi, Chinese assistant minister of public security (centre ), looks at business facilities in Myawaddy, Myanmar from Mae Sot district of Thailand’s Tak province on Jan 29. ( Photo: Assawin Pinitwong )

According to Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Monday, the government will cut 50 % of energy resources to areas in Myanmar that are suspected of being used by criminal cartels to run their businesses.

He pledged it after the Interior Ministry and the Provincial Electricity Authority ( PEA ) met on Monday to discuss the plan to reduce electricity supplies in areas with links to illegal activity.

Mr Phumtham, who is also a deputy prime minister, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry did tell Myanmar about the decision, which is expected to impact many Burmese cities along the frontier, for as Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy opposite Tak’s Mae Sot area. They are known to host online fraud syndicates. He promised to visit Mae Sot district on Thursday to check the position along the Thai-Myanmar boundary, and then he would issue an order to cut the area’s power provide by 50 %.

The Defense Minister emphasized that if it can be demonstrated that the area in question is being used by criminal gangs, the NSC has the power to shut off power resources to an area without case acceptance.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government has contacted the NSC to point out the locations in Myanmar where scammers and other criminals are active.

” If we can confirm the information, the Interior Ministry is ready to cut off the electricity offer”, said Mr Anutin, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister.

NSC Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad stated that government will carefully review all pertinent information before deciding to stop energy supplies to companies along the Thai-Myanmar borders.

According to Mr. Chatchai,” Any decision to cut off strength must take into account PEA’s energy supply contracts and the potential effects on people in the neighboring country.”

Following China’s demand for Thailand to stop providing solutions to the hoax groups in Myawaddy, which are targeting Chinese citizens, Mr. Chatchai stated that he had discussed the matter with representatives from the Interior Ministry, Peas, armed forces, and intellect agencies.

He said there is evidence of transnational criminal syndicate activities in Tachileik, opposite Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, Myawaddy, which borders Tak province, and Payathonzu, which is adjacent to Kanchanaburi province.

Mr. Chatchai claimed that some of these con artist syndicates appear to be connected to casino owners in Myanmar operating across the border.

Some of these venues have requested an increase in power supply, but their requests were turned down because they failed to state the cause of the increase, he said.

Prior to shutting off power supplies, PEA deputy governor Prasit Junprasit stated that the PEA will conduct surveys in areas thought to be run by criminal gangs.

Mr. Anutin wrote a letter to the NSC last week asking for information on illegal activity in five of the areas where the PEA provides electricity.

Although the ministry has the authority to halt the supply of power to these areas, he said, we require more information from other organizations.

Despite repeated requests, the government has been accused of dragging its feet on the matter because it hasn’t yet taken decisive action to stop the flow of criminal syndicates across the border.

Some people have suggested that coalition rifts are making the crackdown effort more difficult.

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