Anutin Says Country Is Remote Hub for Online Scam Networks
Anutin Says Country Is Remote Hub for Online Scam Networks
BANGKOK, June 23, 2026 – Thailand has arrested nearly 30,000 people, including 70 alleged kingpins, in a nationwide crackdown on online scam networks over the past nine months, with authorities seizing assets worth about 24 billion baht (US$700 million), Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Anutin said Thailand had become an important base for some Southeast Asian online scam syndicates, with criminal groups using the country as a remote command centre for operations across the region, according to the Bangkok Post.
He said police had arrested almost 30,000 suspects involved in online fraud and confiscated assets valued at around 24 billion baht during the operation.
According to Anutin, reported online scam cases have fallen by 69.2% following intensified enforcement efforts. Authorities have also closed more than 350,000 mule bank accounts and blocked over 300,000 telephone numbers linked to fraudulent activities.
The prime minister said Thailand had repatriated nearly 2,000 Thai nationals, many of whom were allegedly forced to work in scam compounds in Cambodia and Laos. He added that authorities had also deported more than 2,600 foreign nationals found in scam hubs along the Myanmar border.
Separately, Anutin said police had taken legal action against 1,450 nominee companies allegedly established to allow foreign investors to illegally own land and businesses in southern tourist provinces, including Phuket and Surat Thani.
Authorities seized land and other assets worth more than 1.6 billion baht and issued arrest warrants for multiple Thai and foreign suspects as part of the ongoing investigation, he said.
