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Thai authorities dismantle illegal border communication networks

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illegal border communication networks

A collaborative effort by the Thai Cyber Police, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has successfully cracked down on illegal communication networks along Thailand’s border. This operation, conducted on March 2, resulted in the dismantling of illicit signal towers and the confiscation of thousands of unauthorized SIM cards, effectively disrupting vital support to call center gangs and financially backed criminal groups.

Seizing Signal Towers and SIM Cards

Intelligence reports prompted the joint operation after identifying the establishment of call center gangs and their supporting networks on neighboring islands opposite Thailand’s Ranong province. These islands, including Koh Son, Koh Song, and Koh Koo, were found to be backed by financiers providing technological means to facilitate their activities. Through investigation and evidence gathering, various locations with illegal signal towers and installations of SIM boxes—a technology for housing electronic SIM cards—were identified.

The first location, near a pier in the Pak Nam sub-district of Ranong province, housed an illegal signal tower. Similarly, another setup was discovered next to a restaurant, and a third within a private residence, both within the same sub-district. Furthermore, an installation site for SIM boxes and a distribution point for unauthorized SIM cards were found in the Bang Rin sub-district. Law enforcement seized the equipment and initiated legal action against the perpetrators.

Further investigation uncovered a concentrated movement of call center gangs and their networks along the border areas of Ranong province and neighboring countries. Using specialized tools like spectrum analyzers, officials tracked and analyzed signals from multiple clandestine radio communication stations, distributing internet and mobile phone signals to support criminal operations across the border into Myanmar.

  1. Interagency Collaboration: Cyber Police, NBTC, and DSI Joint Efforts

In response to these findings, a concerted effort involving the Cyber Police unit from the NBTC and the DSI was launched to pursue and eradicate these gangs. Three illegal radio communication stations were seized, along with related equipment, violating the Radio Communications Act and the Telecommunications Business Act. Additionally, crackdowns on ghost SIMs led to the apprehension of thousands of SIM cards in violation of the Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crimes.

Subsequently, all unauthorized radio stations, SIM boxes, and SIM cards were dismantled and confiscated by the police. Suspects were apprehended and handed over for legal proceedings, effectively disrupting the gangs’ access to internet and mobile phone signals.

The police, in collaboration with relevant agencies responsible for border areas, remain committed to ongoing surveillance and law enforcement against similar criminal activities, ensuring the continued integrity of Thailand’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Ongoing Surveillance and Enforcement

The coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies underscore the commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Thailand’s telecommunications infrastructure. By dismantling illegal communication networks and apprehending those responsible, authorities have dealt a significant blow to criminal activities along the border.

Moving forward, ongoing surveillance and proactive enforcement measures will be essential to prevent the resurgence of such illicit operations. Collaboration between the Cyber Police, NBTC, and DSI will remain pivotal in detecting and dismantling illegal networks, ensuring the safety and security of Thailand’s telecommunications landscape.

Through these concerted efforts, Thailand aims to maintain robust defenses against cybercrime and protect its borders from illicit activities that threaten national security and public safety. By staying vigilant and responsive to emerging threats, law enforcement agencies can effectively counter the ever-evolving tactics of criminal organizations operating within and beyond Thailand’s borders.

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Pickup truck crash in Lampang kills one amid heavy rain

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Pickup truck crash in Lampang kills one amid heavy rain

Due to heavy rain, a pickup truck returning from Chiang Mai skidded off the road and crashed into a tree in Thoen, Lampang.

Despite the efforts of rescue teams, a 50-year-old woman tragically lost her life.
The accident was reported to Thoen Police Station in Lampang at 6:50 PM yesterday, July 30.

The incident occurred on Phahonyothin Road, between kilometer markers 632 and 633, near the Mae Thot intersection in Thoen district.

Rescue units from Mae Thot, Lampang, Thoen, and Ombun Thoen were promptly dispatched to the scene.

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Upon arrival, responders discovered a white, four-door Mazda pickup truck with a Surin registration overturned and severely damaged from colliding with a large roadside tree. Inside the vehicle, four injured individuals were trapped.
Rescue teams quickly extracted three injured and provided initial medical assistance before transferring them to a hospital.

However, a 50-year-old woman from the Na Pang subdistrict, Phu Phiang district, Nan province, who was seated in the back, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them before she could be freed from the wreckage.
Initial investigations revealed that the group had traveled from Chiang Mai to Nakhon Pathom.

The accident occurred on a curved section of the road, worsened by wet and slippery conditions from the rain.

The vehicle lost control and crashed violently into the tree.
After extracting and treating the injured, the deceased’s body was transported to the hospital for further examination.
Police have launched a formal investigation into the accident. They are gathering evidence and statements from the injured to understand the exact circumstances leading to the crash.

The results of the investigation will guide necessary legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.
Authorities advised.

“We urge all drivers to exercise extreme caution, especially in bad weather and on curved roads.”

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Police arrest violent debt collector after tip-off in Bangkok

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Police arrest violent debt collector after tip-off in Bangkok

Police apprehended a member of a violent debt collection gang linked to the assault of a 73-year-old woman following a tip-off. He was caught while attempting to flee from a motel on the outskirts of Bangkok.

High-ranking police officials, including Thiti Sangsawang, Noppasin Poolsawat, and Thiradech Thamsuthee, along with a team of investigators, successfully arrested Kritchit, also known as 33-year-old Chit Thasala, from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province today, July 30.

He is one of the three members of the gang responsible for violent debt collection activities, including physical assault, intimidation, kicking doors, cutting off electricity, and locking debtors inside their homes.

The Min Buri Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Kritchit on July 23 for operating an unauthorized personal loan business, charging excessive interest, and threatening debt collection practices.

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He was apprehended at a hotel in the Saphan Sung district as he tried to escape in his car. During interrogation, Kritchit denied all charges, stating he had only completed Grade 9 and initially worked as a fruit farmer in Phuket’s Thalang District. In 2022, he sold his orchard land and used the proceeds to start a money-lending business.

He collaborated with two other suspects, Ta and Khet, who are still at large, to lend money in the Min Buri, Ram Inthra, Rom Klao, and On Nut areas.

They charged an interest rate of 20% daily, with borrowers typically taking out 5,000 to 6,000 baht loans. Kritchit claimed that Ta and Khet were responsible for using violence against the debtors on the day of the incident.

“I only worked with Ta and Khet to lend money. They were the ones who used violence.”

However, police remain skeptical of his testimony. Investigations revealed that Kritchit is romantically involved with the younger sister of Kenwit, another gang member who was previously arrested for assaulting the older woman.

Kenwit’s gang had attacked the 73-year-old in the Chokchai area. After receiving a tip-off, Kritchit fled to the hotel, where he was captured.

Police have transferred Kritchit to the Min Buri Police Station for further legal proceedings. His capture is a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against violent debt collection gangs operating in Bangkok and nearby areas.

As one of the lead investigators remarked, we are committed to cracking down on these illegal activities and ensuring the safety of our citizens.

Kritchit’s case will proceed through the legal system, and police are continuing their search for the remaining gang members, Ta and Khet. The investigation remains ongoing, with police hopeful that further arrests will follow, dismantling the entire network of violent debt collectors, reported Khaosod.

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Thai vendor denies assault, cites stress from poor sales

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Thai vendor denies assault, cites stress from poor sales

A Thai grilled squid vendor turned himself in and expressed remorse after allegedly striking a Pattaya city official who requested him to move his sidecar motorcycle from obstructing traffic.

The vendor, however, denied the physical assault, citing stress from poor sales as the trigger for the incident. He claimed their encounter was limited to a verbal disagreement and a shirt tug.

Pattaya police yesterday, July 29, invited Siwachett Nakham, a 42-year-old former temporary employee at the government’s Public Works Department and a current grilled squid vendor, to meet with an investigator to address the dispute.

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The altercation involved Siwachett and a 40-year-old Pattaya city official, Udon Woranam, who had requested Siwachett to move his vehicle, blocking traffic near Jomtien Beach in front of the Dongtan Police Box. Siwachett was accused of punching Udon after the latter politely asked him to move his motorcycle. Siwachett, who acknowledged being the person in the video, denied the physical assault, maintaining that he only had a verbal confrontation with Udon and tugged his shirt.

He cited stress from poor sales and financial burdens as the reasons behind his behavior.

“I did not intend to harm Mr Udon because I had worked with the Public Works Department before, so I knew hitting an official was a bad idea.”

Siwachett apologized for his actions, and Udon said he did not wish to pursue the matter further. Despite this, Pattaya City insisted on taking legal action against the vendor to set a precedent and deter similar future incidents.

Selling goods

Additionally, Udon advised other vendors to remain calm, control their emotions, and adhere to the designated areas for selling their goods according to the law.

Following resolving this dispute, traffic police officers from Pattaya Police Station raided vendors illegally selling goods on public sidewalks and roads around Pattaya. This operation was in response to tourists’ complaints about obstructions and hazards caused by unorganized vendors.

When authorities arrived near Pattaya Police Station’s Dong Tan substation, they encountered heavy traffic congestion caused by street vendors parking on the road. Some vendors attempted to evade arrest by speeding through the officers’ blockade, putting the safety of officers and nearby individuals at risk.

Thai police managed to apprehend 12 vendors, who will now face legal proceedings for violating traffic and cleanliness laws. The police also announced plans to increase daily inspections in collaboration with municipal officials to restore public spaces for residents and tourists, reported the Pattaya News.

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