In a decisive move to disrupt the operations of call-centre gangs operating along its border with Myanmar, the Thai government has ordered the suspension of electricity supply to five key border areas. The affected regions include Kanchanaburi’s Three Pagodas-Payathongzu crossing, Tak’s Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and Ban Huay Muang to Myawaddy, and Chiang Rai’s Ban Mueang Daeng and First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to Tachileik. This action, implemented on 6 February 2025, marks a significant escalation in Thailand’s efforts to curb cross-border crime, particularly scams orchestrated by these gangs, which have become a growing concern in the region.
The decision to cut power comes amid reports that such criminal networks were planning to relocate their bases closer to Kanchanaburi, a western province bordering Myanmar. Thai authorities, determined to prevent the entrenchment of these gangs, have also ramped up border security, with strict screenings of vehicles to halt the smuggling of fuels, solar cells, and batteries that could be used to sustain off-grid operations. This crackdown reflects broader regional anxieties about the proliferation of cybercrime hubs along porous borders, where lax oversight and conflict in Myanmar have allowed illicit activities to flourish.
A Strategic Response to Cross-Border Crime
The Thai government’s strategy to sever electricity supply targets the logistical backbone of call-centre gangs, which rely heavily on power to run their operations. These groups, often linked to sophisticated scams targeting individuals across Asia and beyond, have exploited the instability in Myanmar’s border regions to establish bases. By cutting off electricity, Thailand aims to render these areas inhospitable for such activities, forcing the gangs to either relocate or cease operations. 
In Sangkhlaburi, a district in Kanchanaburi, provincial agencies convened on Wednesday to coordinate their response. Sangkhlaburi district chief Suriyasak Mueanuam confirmed that relevant agencies have been instructed to monitor and prevent the smuggling of energy resources across checkpoints. “We are taking every measure to ensure that these criminal networks cannot sustain their operations,” he said, as reported by local outlets. Meanwhile, Somkiat Tesachabut, manager of the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Sangkhlaburi branch, affirmed that the power cuts were executed in line with government policy, adding that officials are on high alert for any attempts at “electricity smuggling” to border areas.
This is not merely a technical intervention but a signal of intent from Bangkok. The Thai government is under increasing pressure to address the reputational and economic damage caused by cross-border scams, which have tarnished the region’s image and led to financial losses for victims worldwide. Thai authorities have also notified exporters of fuels and energy equipment through the Sangkhlaburi Customs House, as stated by agency chief Kritsana Setthakorn, ensuring that the private sector is aligned with the crackdown.
The Broader Context of Thailand-Myanmar Border Dynamics
The border between Thailand and Myanmar, stretching over 2,400 kilometres, has long been a hotspot for illicit activities, from drug trafficking to human smuggling. The areas targeted in this power cut—Kanchanaburi, Tak, and Chiang Rai—are strategically significant, serving as key crossings for trade and movement between the two nations. However, they have also become conduits for crime, exacerbated by Myanmar’s ongoing political turmoil following the 2021 military coup.
In Myanmar’s border regions, particularly in areas like Myawaddy and Tachileik, governance is often fragmented, with ethnic armed organisations and militias holding sway alongside or in opposition to the military junta. This power vacuum has allowed criminal enterprises, including call-centre gangs, to operate with relative impunity. These gangs are often involved in elaborate scams, posing as legitimate businesses or authorities to defraud victims through phone calls, emails, and online platforms. Reports suggest that many of these operations are run from compounds near the border, employing coerced or trafficked individuals under brutal conditions.
Thailand’s decision to cut electricity supply must be seen within this complex geopolitical context. While the move is aimed at disrupting crime, it also risks straining relations with local communities on both sides of the border who depend on cross-border trade and connectivity. The Three Pagodas Pass in Kanchanaburi, for instance, is a historic trade route, and any disruption to normalcy could impact livelihoods. Thai authorities will need to balance their security objectives with the economic and humanitarian implications of such measures.
Regional and International Implications
The crackdown on call-centre gangs is not an isolated Thai initiative but part of a broader regional push to combat cybercrime. Countries across South East Asia, including Cambodia and Laos, have faced similar challenges, with scam operations often linked to organised crime syndicates operating in border zones. In recent years, international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, have intensified efforts to dismantle these networks, with joint operations leading to arrests and the rescue of trafficking victims.
However, the effectiveness of unilateral actions like Thailand’s power cuts remains uncertain. If the gangs relocate deeper into Myanmar or to other border areas with less oversight, the problem may simply shift rather than disappear. Analysts suggest that a more sustainable solution would involve greater cooperation with Myanmar’s authorities—challenging though that may be given the country’s political instability—and investment in intelligence-sharing with regional partners.
There is also the question of unintended consequences. If confirmed, the power cuts may disrupt legitimate businesses and communities in Myanmar’s border areas, potentially fuelling resentment among local populations already grappling with conflict and economic hardship. Thai officials have not yet commented on contingency plans to mitigate such impacts, but any backlash could complicate bilateral relations at a time when Thailand is seeking to maintain stability along its western frontier.
Implementing and sustaining this policy poses significant logistical challenges for Thailand. Monitoring vast border areas for electricity smuggling or alternative power sources, such as solar cells and batteries, requires substantial resources and coordination among multiple agencies. There is also the risk that criminal networks adapt by securing independent power supplies or bribing local officials to turn a blind eye—a tactic that has been observed in other parts of the region.
Speculatively, if the power cuts succeed in disrupting call-centre operations without adequate follow-up measures, there may be a temporary reduction in scam activities emanating from these areas. However, without addressing the root causes—such as poverty, conflict, and weak governance in Myanmar—these gangs are likely to resurface elsewhere. It is also possible, though unconfirmed, that the displacement of such operations could lead to an increase in other forms of crime, such as smuggling or extortion, as these groups seek alternative revenue streams. As no evidence currently supports this outcome, it remains a point of concern rather than a definitive prediction.
From a policy perspective, Thailand’s actions could set a precedent for other nations grappling with cross-border crime. If deemed effective, similar measures—such as restricting utilities or tightening border controls—might be adopted by neighbouring countries. However, without international collaboration and a focus on victim protection, such strategies risk being seen as punitive rather than preventative.
Thailand’s decision to cut electricity to Myanmar border areas underscores the urgency of tackling the scourge of call-centre gangs and the broader issue of cybercrime in South East Asia. It is a bold, if unconventional, approach to a problem that has defied easy solutions. Yet, while the immediate aim is to disrupt criminal operations, the long-term success of this strategy hinges on addressing the systemic issues that allow such gangs to thrive.
For now, the border regions of Kanchanaburi, Tak, and Chiang Rai remain under close watch, as Thai authorities brace for the next move from these elusive networks. The coming weeks will reveal whether this power cut is a decisive blow to cross-border crime or merely a temporary setback for those who operate in the shadows of South East Asia’s frontiers. What is clear, however, is that the fight against cybercrime in the region demands not just national resolve but a coordinated, multinational effort—one that balances security with the complex human and economic realities of border life.
