Thailand calls for stronger cooperation among Mekong countries in transborder crime combat
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has revealed that in his address at the ninth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) ministerial meeting, slated for August 15-16, he will seek cooperation to fight call-centre gangs and transborder crimes.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (Photo: nationthailand.com)
Bangkok (VNA)– Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has revealed that in his address at the ninth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) ministerial meeting, slated for August 15-16, he will seek cooperation to fight call-centre gangs and transborder crimes.
The PM said that his government is focusing on cracking down on call-centre gangs that have been operating across the borders to deceive people into wiring them money.
He said he has assigned Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa to coordinate with neighbouring countries to suppress call-centre gangs.
Srettha also stressed that he will emphasise cooperation among Mekong nations to fight transborder crimes.
Meanwhile, Maris said cooperation between neighbouring nations would be necessary for fighting transborder crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking and call-centre gangs.
He said Thailand had won pledges from some countries in the region to suppress transborder crimes and he would use the MLC meeting to forge cooperation in this regard.
The MLC is a multilateral framework established in 2016 for cooperation among the six riparian countries along the Mekong River, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
🌠 After the MLC meeting, to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the theme of “Towards Safer and Cleaner Mekong Lancang”, the Thai Foreign Minister is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the MLC cooperation./.
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