13-11-2025 (BANGKOK) Thai and Chinese authorities have convened a crucial bilateral summit to address the growing concern of human trafficking networks using Thailand as a transit point for recruitment into fraudulent call-centre operations.
The high-stakes meeting, held at Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok on Sunday, brought together senior law enforcement officials from both nations to forge stronger collaborative measures against sophisticated transnational criminal enterprises.
Leading the Thai contingent was Police Lieutenant General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, who heads the comprehensive Child Protection Centre and anti-trafficking division. The Chinese delegation was spearheaded by Wu Zhiwu, China’s ambassador to Thailand, accompanied by senior police and consular officials.
A key focus of the talks centred on recent incidents where foreign nationals, including a prominent Chinese actor, were lured into Myanmar through Thai territory under false pretences. The successful rescue operation of the actor was highlighted as an example of effective bilateral cooperation.
“This partnership marks a decisive step in our joint efforts to dismantle these criminal networks,” said Police Major General Pongsiam Meekanthong, deputy commander of Thailand’s Tourist Police Division. “We’re seeing increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by these gangs to deceive victims.”
The summit yielded concrete results, with both nations agreeing to establish a dedicated coordination centre for tracking individuals who have fallen victim to trafficking in countries bordering Thailand. The initiative will particularly focus on monitoring cross-border movement and identifying potential victims before they fall prey to criminal networks.
Intelligence sharing mechanisms were also strengthened, with particular emphasis on monitoring call-centre operations that often serve as fronts for larger criminal enterprises. The agreement includes enhanced border control measures and joint operations to intercept illegal activities.
Thai authorities report a concerning trend where legitimate-appearing job offers are used to lure foreigners into criminal operations. These victims often find themselves trapped in neighbouring countries, forced to participate in sophisticated scam operations.
