China teams up with Thailand and Laos to tackle cybercriminals in Myanmar who often target Chinese nationals
- ‘Stronger coordination’ needed to ‘resolutely reverse’ gambling and fraud in Myanmar, envoys of China, Thailand and Laos say in joint statement
- Public security authorities of the four nations to also jointly tackle human trafficking related to Myanmar-based cyber scams
“Rampant [online] gambling and fraud in Myanmar are seriously jeopardising public life and property … The three embassies will make every effort to coordinate with Myanmar to carry out search and rescue operations and assist in stepping up efforts to crack down on gambling syndicates,” the statement said.
This came days after Chinese public security ministry officials and their counterparts from Myanmar, Thailand and Laos met in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, where they launched a special cooperative mechanism to crack down on human trafficking related to cyber scams originating in Myanmar.
The four countries have set up a coordination centre in Chiang Mai for police cooperation in tackling cyber crime gangs, a statement following the meeting said.
The multinational cooperation drive is the latest in China’s efforts to root out Myanmar-based gangs that frequently target Chinese nationals, luring them with investment ruses, or promises of love or jobs, and then detaining them and forcing them to work as online scammers.