News from December 29, 2024, reports that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin plans to personally lead a team to conduct a surprise inspection of scam operations and gambling companies in the Poipet area.
This news caused a stir in Poipet, and just last night, over a hundred companies and related businesses moved overnight to other areas, attempting to avoid the inspection.
Poipet: The "eye of the storm" for scams and gambling companies. As an important border city between Thailand and Cambodia, Poipet has long been known for its gambling industry and cross-border commercial activities. However, the frequent reports of scam activities and illegal gambling in recent years have made this area a focal point of public attention.
Insiders reveal that some businesses in Poipet, while ostensibly legitimate startups, may actually be engaged in illegal activities such as telecommunications fraud and online gambling. These companies take advantage of the geographical convenience of the border to operate across borders and conceal their identities, making it difficult for law enforcement to track them.
Thaksin strikes hard, directly targeting the grey areas. The Thai government has recently intensified its crackdown on scams and illegal gambling. Thaksin, as a former Prime Minister, re-engaging in anti-corruption efforts by personally leading the inspection in Poipet, underscores the government's serious attention to the issue.
The enforcement action is expected to start from Poipet's key commercial districts and office buildings, including checking the registration information of businesses, records of financial transactions, and employee backgrounds. According to Thai media, the government will also collaborate with Cambodian authorities to conduct a more thorough investigation of cross-border criminal activities.
Following the announcement, there was a frequent occurrence of nighttime relocations, akin to a population migration. On the night the action was announced, many local startups in Poipet suddenly "vanished." Witnesses reported that multiple office buildings were brightly lit in the middle of the night, with trucks frequently entering and exiting, and office equipment being hastily moved out.
"Last night, I saw the company next door moving out overnight, with several trucks loaded with computers and files, and the employees looked panicked, not knowing where they were going," said a Poipet resident.
It is speculated that these relocating companies may be related to scams or gambling activities, attempting to evade inspection by changing their office addresses. Analysts believe that this overnight relocation behavior actually exposes their potential illegal activities.
The government calls for public reporting of illegal activities. The Thai government stated that it will further strengthen the control of Poipet and surrounding areas and calls on the public to actively provide tips. Thaksin, in an interview with the media, pointed out: "We will not tolerate any form of illegal activity, no matter how deep these companies are hidden, they must be investigated according to the law."
Additionally, the Thai government plans to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia to jointly combat cross-border crime. The Cambodian side also supports this action, promising to cooperate with Thailand in the joint rectification of illegal activities. This news has sparked heated discussions on social media. Many Thai netizens support the government's actions, while others question why these illegal activities have been able to exist for so long without being addressed.
"Such actions should have been taken long ago, these scammers have harmed too many people!" a Thai netizen wrote on Twitter.
"I hope this inspection is not just for show, but will truly root out the masterminds behind the scenes!" another Thai netizen commented.
As the action progresses, Poipet's business environment may welcome new standardized development and could deal a heavy blow to illegal gambling and scam activities. The public looks forward to this rectification action achieving substantial results, injecting new confidence in fairness and justice in Thai society.
Poipet, this border city, has now become the focus of Thailand's anti-scam efforts. Facing the layers of grey areas, Thaksin's action is undoubtedly a severe challenge. In the future, whether the business ecosystem in the Poipet area can withstand a comprehensive inspection remains to be seen.
