Bangkok, Feb 5 (V7N) — Thailand has shut off electricity to five locations along its border with Myanmar, targeting online scam centers accused of fueling crime and deterring Chinese tourists.

The move comes amid growing pressure from Beijing to crack down on criminal syndicates operating along the porous frontier. These scam compounds, run by organized crime groups, have trafficked thousands of foreign workers—many of them Chinese—and forced them to participate in online fraud schemes that generate billions of dollars.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced Wednesday that the National Security Council had ordered electricity to be cut in five areas: two in Mae Sai in the north, two in Mae Sot in the west, and one at Three Pagodas Pass.

“The electricity supply is not being stopped because the companies violated the contract, but because it is being misused for scams, drugs, and call centers,” Anutin said.

He emphasized that the move distances Thailand from any accusations of supporting illegal operations.

The power cut comes as Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visits Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the scam crisis is expected to be a key issue.

The proliferation of online fraud hubs in Myanmar’s lawless borderlands has created a diplomatic headache for China, as many of the victims—and perpetrators—are Chinese nationals.

These operations, often controlled by armed groups, defraud people globally while holding trafficked workers against their will. Beijing has intensified calls for regional governments to take action.

The fallout is also hitting Thailand’s tourism sector. Rising fears of kidnappings linked to scam centers have discouraged Chinese travelers, leading to a steep decline in visitors during last week’s Lunar New Year holiday—traditionally a peak travel period.

China is a vital market for Thailand’s tourism industry, which is still recovering from the economic blow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai called the scam compounds a “national security issue” and stressed Thailand’s determination to dismantle them.

Thailand earns about 50 million baht ($1.5 million) per month from electricity sales to the now-disconnected locations in Myanmar, but officials insist that economic concerns will not outweigh efforts to combat crime.

As Thai and Chinese leaders hold discussions in Beijing, the crackdown on border scams could prove crucial to restoring tourist confidence and strengthening diplomatic ties with China.

END/WD/RH/