A joint operation involving the Royal Thai Police (RTP), the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Meta has led to the arrest of 21 suspects and the shutdown of more than 150,000 accounts connected to scam activities.
The Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) announced that the second Joint Disruption Week concluded in Bangkok yesterday. The initiative follows a similar operation in December, which resulted in the removal of 59,000 accounts, pages and groups from Meta platforms and the issuance of six arrest warrants.
The latest effort was conducted in collaboration with the FBI, the US Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries. The operation focused on strengthening intelligence-sharing to dismantle online scam networks at their source.
According to the ACSC, the initiative aimed to identify and break up organised criminal groups operating large-scale scam operations across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Meta investigators disabled more than 150,000 accounts linked to scam networks during the course of the operation.
Information shared through the operation enabled the RTP to arrest 21 individuals. Authorities also discovered that one criminal network had trafficked more than 300 Thai nationals to work at scam centres located along border areas.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, Assistant National Police Chief and Deputy Director of the Police Cyber Task Force, warned that scam syndicates have become increasingly sophisticated and organised, making online crime a growing threat.
He said these networks are now targeting ordinary individuals, including families and friends, while operating across borders and causing widespread harm.
He added that the joint operation highlights the strength of international cooperation and sends a clear signal that the RTP and its partners will continue efforts to combat online crime and protect Thailand and the wider region.
Chris Sonderby, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Meta, said the operation demonstrates how coordinated intelligence-sharing can help disrupt criminal activities at their origin.
Separately, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) reported that 437,473 illegal URLs have been taken down since October.
In February alone, authorities blocked 132,842 URLs, according to DES spokesman Wetang Phuangsup. Most of the removed links were related to online gambling, accounting for 362,482 URLs.
Other blocked websites included content promoting the sale of e-cigarettes, cannabis and other illegal drugs, prostitution services and illegal firearms.
Mr Wetang said the ministry has deployed artificial intelligence tools to enhance the monitoring of illegal online content.
The technology helps officials detect unlawful material and collect evidence required for courts to authorise the removal of such content.
He added that the system has significantly improved the speed and efficiency of the blocking process.