Thai Military Seizes 38 Starlink Receivers from Chinese Smuggler

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

In a significant crackdown, Thai military and police forces arrested Lyu Huangyu, a Chinese national, who is suspected of smuggling 38 Starlink satellite receivers intended for a call centre gang situated across the border in Myanmar.

 

The operation unfolded on March 22, when the Rachamanu Special Task Force, collaborating with the anti-narcotics unit and local police, set up a checkpoint in Ban Huai Yao, Mae Sot district, Tak province.

 

The task force inspected Lyu's white Isuzu pickup truck en route from Tak to Mae Sot. Inside the vehicle, amidst boxes labelled with Makro and Shopee Food stickers, they discovered the satellite receivers.

 

Lyu claimed he had collected these goods from Chiang Mai with the plan to hand them over in Mae Sot, where a second party would take charge of their onward journey.

 

Authorities suspect the equipment was earmarked for illicit activities, specifically to support a call centre operation in Myawaddy, Karen state, Myanmar. Such operations often rely on sophisticated technology to perpetrate scams, making the interception of these devices crucial.

 

After the seizure, the task force detained Lyu and transferred him to Pha Wo police station for further legal actions. This seizure echoes a similar effort earlier this month when security forces confiscated 21 Starlink devices and four printers intended for a call centre scam in Payathonzu, Myanmar.

 

 

 

The Thai government has been aggressively targeting these operations, implementing measures to disrupt their activities. Notably, a recent policy decision to cut electricity, oil, and internet services to areas bordering Myanmar has resulted in significant financial setbacks for these networks.

 

According to Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, these strategies have substantially reduced the volume of call scams, curtailing losses by over 200 million Thai Baht.

 

This decisive action underscores Thailand's commitment to tackling cross-border digital fraud, a pressing issue that has burdened many individuals with scams proliferating in the region. By intercepting crucial equipment like the Starlink receivers, Thai authorities aim to dismantle the infrastructure that supports these operations, thereby protecting citizens from cybercrimes, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-24

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

Another day, and yet more arrests of Chinese criminals in Thailand.

[MalcolmB]

12 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

Another day, and yet more arrests of Chinese criminals in Thailand.

Yes, they are a problem.

 

Not like us law abiding British gentlemen.

We stick mostly to smuggling drugs and pimping.

[Mike_Hunt]

I'll offer to buy one if the price is right. 

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Another day, and yet more arrests of Chinese criminals in Thailand.

 

Quality tourists.