Authorities in Thailand are making concerted efforts to strengthen border security to prevent human trafficking gangs from using the country as a transit point.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to hold a key meeting on Jan 27 to outline policies for fighting border-related crimes in the wake of a recent trafficking case involving a Chinese actor.
The meeting will be attended by 14 provincial governors, 14 provincial police chiefs, 51 district chiefs and the commanders of 76 police stations, according to Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Last week, the Thai Ministry of Defence issued a warning to governors and district chiefs in 14 border provinces. Transfers await top officials in these provinces if they are unable to curb cross-border smuggling of drugs, call center scams and human trafficking within six months.
Phumtham, who is also Thai deputy prime minister, said it is important that all sides cooperate to seal the borders against drug smuggling and operations carried out by call centers and human trafficking gangs. He said that leaving the job to the military alone is not feasible, according to local news portal The Nation.
The measures follow the case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who went missing at the Thailand-Myanmar border after arriving in Thailand's Tak province for a supposed film shoot on Jan 3, causing widespread public concern in both China and Thailand.
On Tuesday afternoon, Wang was retrieved safely at a border crossing point from Myanmar to Thailand. Thai police said he had fallen victim to a human trafficking gang using Thailand as a gateway.
The actor flew back to Shanghai from Bangkok on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began.
Apart from Wang, several other Chinese nationals were recently reported to have lost contact with their friends or families in or near Thailand.
Similar cases
Thai police are investigating at least two such cases — one involving Chinese male model Yang Zeqi, who went missing last month, and another involving a Chinese woman, Wu Jiaqi, whose disappearance was brought to their attention this week.
The Bangkok Post, a local newspaper, quoted a Thai police source as saying that both cases are suspected to involve human trafficking gangs, and are similar to the recent disappearance of the Chinese actor.
Colonel Natthakorn Ruentip, commander of the Ratchamanu Task Force based in Thailand's Mae Sot district, said on Saturday that hundreds of foreign nationals were found near the border since October and were detained for illegal entry.
These individuals are from 21 countries, including China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ethiopia and India, he said.
Local news portal The Reporter quoted the colonel as saying that Myanmar's cybercrime network has expanded significantly in recent years, particularly in its southeastern town of Myawaddy, which borders Mae Sot.
Thai authorities have drafted eight points for negotiation with the Myanmar government, the colonel said, adding that power supply and equipment exports to Myawaddy should be stopped to make the operation of cybercrime gangs harder.
Growing concerns
The trafficking case of the Chinese actor and the disappearance of others have fueled worries and dampened the enthusiasm of Chinese tourists for visiting Thailand.
"We planned to visit Samui (an island in Thailand) in February, but may now cancel the trip due to safety concerns, as there have been several trafficking cases," said Zhang Yue, a resident of Chongqing in southwestern China.
On Friday, the Tourism Authority of Thailand released a statement reassuring Chinese tourists of the Thai government's determination to strengthen safety measures and maintain the country's reputation as one of the top travel destinations in Southeast Asia.
The authority is hoping for at least 8 million Chinese tourists this year. During the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, Thailand is expected to record 20,000 to 30,000 daily arrivals from China.
"We will work closely with related departments and the private sector to provide convenience and high-quality services," TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said in the statement, urging Chinese tourists to experience "our greatest hospitality", as "Thais and Chinese are members of one family".
She added that Thailand's tourism industry has prepared various promotion packages for Chinese tourists.
On Saturday, the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association also released a statement, highlighting the long and historical friendship between the Thai and Chinese people and blaming criminal gangs in another country for trying to ruin such close bonds.
"We hope to give a gentle reminder to Chinese tourists to be vigilant and alert. Do not trust information or services provided by strangers. If you encounter any suspicious situations, please contact the police immediately. We should unite and work together to address illegal activities and jointly maintain our friendship and peace," it said.
After actor Wang's return, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok expressed its gratitude to the Thai government for prioritizing the case and promptly launching a rescue operation to ensure his safe homecoming.
On Saturday, the embassy posted a reminder on its social media platform urging Chinese citizens visiting Thailand to be cautious of employment scams and not get drawn to jobs promising high salaries, meals and accommodations without proper verification.
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