Solving the Transit Scam: Protecting Foreigners in Thailand

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Siam Rath

 

Thailand's national police chief, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphuet, is taking decisive action to address the growing issue of foreign nationals being deceived into using the country as a transit point. In a recent meeting, he focused on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal activities perpetrated by foreign groups misusing Thailand's openness.

 

The meeting, held both in-person at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters and via video conferencing, brought together senior police officials, including Deputy Police Chiefs Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong and Pol. Gen. Prachya Wongsook, as well as representatives from related agencies.

 

Central to the agenda was the launch of comprehensive measures to curb crimes that threaten public wellbeing and national security. This includes tackling organised crime by foreign entities and ensuring strict regulation of immigration and employment practices to protect Thailand’s international reputation and tourism industry.

 

Key directives include:

 

1. Strict monitoring of police conduct to prevent corruption, with senior officials accountable for oversight.

 

2. Coordination among various police divisions and related agencies to enforce local and national crime prevention strategies. This includes the deployment of checkpoints and collaborative investigations to root out illegal activities, especially at border regions like Mae Sot in Tak province, known for substantial illegal crossings.

 

3. Improved data sharing and operational integration spearheaded by the Immigration Bureau to keep track of foreign nationals' movements and activities.

The actions are in line with directives from the Prime Minister, aiming to dismantle networks involved in illegal trafficking and scams while boosting Thailand’s image as a safe and welcoming destination for tourists.

 

The initiative seeks not just enforcement but a national effort to root out illicit activities impacting the country's economy and international standing. Authorities have been tasked to demonstrate tangible progress within a week, particularly in hotspot areas.

 

In highlighting the collaborative efforts and public outreach required, Pol. Gen. Kittirat implores Thai citizens to play their part in presenting the kingdom as a hospitable nation, thus fostering a positive environment for tourism and boosting economic growth, reported Siam Rath.

 

-- 2025-01-21

 

 

[JoePai]

1. Strict monitoring of police conduct to prevent corruption   🤣

[ronster]

Think he will find it's not a transit point and the criminals just come here and hide out .Or the cocky very rich ones just swan around doing as they please 🙄

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In a recent meeting, he focused on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal activities perpetrated by foreign groups misusing Thailand's openness.

Of course it's those dirty rotten stinking foreigners again, not Thai s who provide transportation ?

[khunjeff]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

enforce local and national crime prevention strategies. This includes the deployment of checkpoints

 

For the love of god, their answer to every problem is...checkpoints.

 

Not only are checkpoints a very poor and inefficient strategy for crime prevention in general, but foreigners who were victimized by these scams have reported that they were stopped at checkpoints while being transported to the border, and were waved through when the officers recognized the faces of the traffickers.

 

So yeah, it still all comes down to "Directive 1" on his list, as usual - and we know how successful that's likely to be.

[Caldera]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

1. Strict monitoring of police conduct to prevent corruption, with senior officials accountable for oversight.

 

That being the first point of their list, allow me to predict that they will fall at the first hurdle... 

[it is what it is]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

1. Strict monitoring of police conduct to prevent corruption   🤣

 

yea, they're off to a bad start with that one, not going to happen.

[MikeandDow]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

1. Strict monitoring of police conduct to prevent corruption   🤣

This will not happen!

Thais still accept paying fees to officials as "sin nam jai", the 'gifts of good will' and do not see that as a form of corruption.

[SiSePuede419]

Obviously Thailand needs to build a giant Big C, Central and Makro complex that resembles Las Vegas but with indoor ski slopes and casinos to stop the Tweaked Out Myanmar Generals from cornering this lucrative market.

[TheFishman1]

I’d like to ask him what about the Red Bull kid you ever find out where he is hiding out how about the red notice you ever really turn one in  talk about corruption TIT

[Aussie999]

11 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I’d like to ask him what about the Red Bull kid you ever find out where he is hiding out how about the red notice you ever really turn one in  talk about corruption TIT

there is no active Red Bull notice, there hasn't been for a number of years, the last one, that the RTP posted online, I have the link, was never actually seen on interpol. It was either issued, and withdrawn immediately, or the one shown, hate to tarnish the good (555) reputation of the RTP, was a fake.

Here is the link
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/10/07/real-or-fake-cops-show-interpol-notice-for-boss-red-bull/

[PomPolo]

Shouldn't they have been doing all of this already?

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, PomPolo said:

Shouldn't they have been doing all of this already?

They have often said the same things... I doubt anyone believes anything they said... unless you are new to thailand, or very gullible

[PomPolo]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

This includes the deployment of checkpoints

Had to laugh at this one I lived in the Philippines during COVID and they had checkpoints everywhere manned by police with M16's.
Was going through a checkpoint one day and got stopped we had to get shopping as we were allowed to do, and I asked the policeman if M16's were a cure for COVID, he didn't take it too well, still managed to get the shopping though.

[rocketboy2]

Just a Dog and Pony show for the police force.