Police Spokesman Counters Hun Sen Claims, Insists Scammer Gang Bases Are in Cambodia, Calls for Joint Crackdown
Thai police insist online scammer gang bases are in Cambodia and call for joint international cooperation to dismantle operations, rejecting claims the networks merely transit through Thailand.
On May 25, 2025, at Royal Thai Police headquarters, Police Lieutenant General Trairuang Phiwphon, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, responded to remarks made by former Cambodian leader Hun Sen suggesting that online scammer gangs operating from Cambodia are not using Cambodian airlines but rather transiting through Thailand.
Trairuang stated that combating transnational criminal networks, particularly online scammer gangs and call centers, requires focusing primarily on identifying operational bases. Currently, scammer network locations are scattered along border areas and various regions.
He noted that completely sealing the border is difficult due to the length and complexity of the Thai-Cambodian border, making illegal border crossings a significant enforcement challenge. However, if authorities can identify and access the criminal groups' operational locations, enforcement efforts would be far more effective, necessitating close international cooperation.
The Police Lieutenant General added that the Royal Thai Police's Anti-Online Fraud Center, under the supervision of Police Lieutenant General Chirathon Phuridetch, Deputy Police Chief, continuously coordinates and shares location data of scammer gangs and online fraud operation centers in neighboring countries. Upon receiving such intelligence, it is immediately forwarded to relevant agencies for action.
Trairuang affirmed that Thailand has implemented strict measures to intercept illegal border crossings, both on land and at sea, and conducts serious and decisive operations against call center and scammer gangs. These efforts have earned international recognition as one of the region's most serious approaches to online crime.
He emphasized that Police Chief Kittarat Patthanapol's policy prioritizes the safety of tourists and foreign nationals conducting legitimate business in Thailand, assuring that the country remains a safe and welcoming destination.
Trairuang warned that anyone attempting to use Thailand as a transit point for criminal operations or as a hideout for criminal networks, or those with outstanding warrants, cannot evade Thai police tracking due to strict intelligence and inspection systems from entry.
He acknowledged that some criminals may not appear in intelligence databases if they operate as ordinary individuals and have never been arrested, but if Thai authorities detect them, cases will be prosecuted fully, as demonstrated by numerous significant past cases.
Trairuang conceded that solving the scammer gang problem requires genuine cooperation from Cambodia, particularly acknowledging international intelligence indicating that scam centers are based in Cambodian territory.
He concluded that if Cambodia acknowledges the problem and conducts genuine joint investigations and suppression efforts, the scammer gang problem there would decrease, benefiting Thailand as well since neighboring countries' criminal activities directly impact Thailand's security and its citizens.
