Thailand watchdog accuses elites of protecting scam gangs | AGB
Summary
The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) chairman Mana Nimitmongkol has accused powerful political and bureaucratic figures of shielding organised scam syndicates, online gambling networks and money‑laundering rings. Mana says enforcement so far is only targeting small operators while ‘dark power and connections’ protect masterminds, citing recent exposures that involve ministers, MPs, a former national police chief and more than 200 police officers.
He pointed to a string of high‑profile cases — including Tu Hao and Jinling pub operations, Yu Xinqi’s visa scheme that allegedly brought 7,000 Chinese nationals to Thailand, the Inspector Sua gambling network, the Minnie case and the 888 online betting platform — and estimated annual losses to scam networks at more than THB100 billion. Mana argues outdated laws on narcotics, gambling, fraud and computer crime make it hard to trace illicit financial flows to influential figures.
The government is preparing a nationwide crackdown. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas is to lead a new “data bureau” to link information across agencies and financial institutions under PM Anutin Charnvirakul’s “Connect the Dots” framework. Authorities plan tougher due diligence for banks, FATF‑aligned monitoring updates, and efforts to trace funds routed through crypto, informal cash hubs and gold markets into high‑value assets.
