Police in western Thailand have intercepted a suspected “grey Chinese” call centre gang believed to be relocating its base across the border, seizing drugs and chemical precursors worth more than 3 million baht on the black market. Three suspects were arrested in the operation in Kanchanaburi province on 5 March.
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The arrests were made in Sangkhla Buri district after authorities received intelligence that a group of Chinese nationals would attempt to cross the border at the Three Pagodas Pass into Payathonzu, Myanmar. Officers believed the suspects were linked to a transnational call centre scam network moving operations from Cambodia to the Myanmar frontier.
The operation involved a joint task force led by Pol Col Santi Phithaksakul, superintendent of Sangkhla Buri Police Station. He was joined by Pol Col Korn Somkaney, superintendent of Kanchanaburi Immigration, along with personnel from the Lad Ya Task Force, Border Patrol Police Unit 134, local administrative officials and volunteer defence units.
Authorities set up surveillance and eventually located a black Toyota vehicle parked at a petrol station in Sangkhla Buri district. Inside the vehicle were a 70-year-old Thai driver and two Chinese men aged 30 and 27.
The two Chinese nationals were unable to produce passports or any valid immigration documents. Officers then conducted a detailed search of the vehicle and luggage.
Inside a suitcase, authorities discovered large quantities of suspected illegal substances. The haul included 209 gold-coloured bottles containing unknown chemicals, three bags of purple powder weighing 1,380 grams, one bag of orange-coloured material weighing 333.41 grams and 64 blue sachets believed to be “date rape” drugs.
Preliminary examinations indicated the substances included precursors and narcotics linked to several drugs. Investigators said these included methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), morphine, ketamine and cocaine, with an estimated black-market value of at least 3 million baht.
During questioning, the Thai driver reportedly admitted he had been hired for 3,000 baht to collect the two Chinese men from Thong Pha Phum district and transport them to Sangkhla Buri. He told investigators that a Myanmar broker was expected to pick them up and escort them across the border into Payathonzu.
Police arrested all three suspects at the scene before the planned cross-border transfer could take place. Authorities believe the suspects were attempting to relocate operations along the western border as enforcement pressure increases in neighbouring countries.
Investigators have initially charged the suspects with illegal possession of Category 1 and Category 2 narcotics. The two Chinese nationals also face charges of entering and staying in Thailand without permission.
Daily News reported that the suspects have been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings. Authorities say they will expand the investigation to identify the wider cross-border call centre network believed to be operating along Thailand’s western frontier.
Pictures courtesy of Daily News
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 6 Mar 2026
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