Mekong 6 unite to fight scams

CHINA-LED MEET BACKS DATA SHARING

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

»The six Mekong-Lancang countries have agreed to intensify joint action against transnational telecom and online fraud, adopting urgent measures centred on real-time data sharing, cyber liaison officers and stricter SIM-card registration.

The commitments were reached at a ministerial meeting on Nov 14 in Kunming, China, attended by China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, assistant national police chief, said scam centres in the region form a "cross-border criminal ecosystem" harming citizens of all six nations. He pledged Thailand's full transparency and called for reciprocal cooperation.