A Cambodian geopolitical and international-security analyst identified in the report as 唐孟 warned that Thailand was increasingly becoming a major Southeast Asian centre for human-trafficking groups and large-scale online scams, and a key link in transnational organized crime.
The analyst said many victims were lured into Thailand by scam networks before being transferred to compounds in Myanmar. They experienced kidnapping, unlawful detention, violence and forced labour. Some said people impersonating immigration officials met them upon arrival in Thailand and then took them directly to scam sites.
Citing Reuters and UN-related reports, the analyst noted Thailand’s Tier 2 classification in the US trafficking report and argued that significant shortcomings remained in its response to trafficking. The analyst described Thailand as both a transit country and an emerging source country, complicating regional security.
The analyst alleged that evidence pointed to corruption and tolerance among some Thai border officials who facilitated or allowed transfers of people, enabling scam compounds to operate. Without action against corruption and acceptance of responsibility, the analyst argued, Southeast Asia would struggle to eradicate scams and trafficking and neighbours including Cambodia would continue to suffer.
The analyst called for stronger Thai enforcement and joint regional action against transnational criminal networks to prevent more innocent people falling into scam traps.
Compiled report by this station
