Bangkok: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the seizure of assets worth 20 billion baht from an international scammer group, emphasizing the initiative as a national agenda and ordering strict measures to "confidentially conceal names and monitor behavior."
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul led a press conference detailing the seizure and freezing of assets belonging to a transnational scamming network. This network involves individuals such as Ms. Taengthai, Mr. Leak Yim, Ms. Wirinya, Mr. Smith Ben, and Ms. Katriya, among others.
Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government has prioritized the prevention and suppression of technology-related crime as a "national agenda." This aligns with the policy statement to Parliament, which aims to enhance efforts against technology-related crime and money laundering to build confidence among the public and international community.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the relevant agencies for their coordinated efforts, which enabled the investigation to trace the financial transactions leading to the asset seizure. The assets, totaling over 20 billion baht, were seized in two phases: initially, 68 items valued at 12 billion baht, followed by an additional 34 items valued at 8.2 billion baht. As the supervisor of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Prime Minister instructed all agencies to strictly enforce the law, adhering to the principle of "keeping names secret, revealing behavior." He urged the AMLO and related agencies to continue their efforts.
The government outlined a three-part strategy post-seizure: protecting victims' rights and ensuring compensation in accordance with losses, collaborating with agencies such as the Royal Thai Police and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to broaden investigations, and considering further prosecution against those involved in money laundering.
After the press conference, the Prime Minister addressed the victims' demands, emphasizing swift legal action to restore justice. He and his delegation inspected the seized assets, including luxury vehicles, and discussed details with the AMLO Secretary-General to confirm the ongoing and vigorous pursuit of transnational crime.