Joint operation cracks down on telecom fraud

A joint law enforcement operation involving China and five Southeast Asian countries last year resulted in the cracking of over 160 cases, primarily related to telecom fraud, and the arrest of more than 70,000 suspects, according to a report by China Media Group on Tuesday.

According to the report, a joint operation, named "Seagull", was organized by the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center, lasting from August to December last year. It aimed to implement the consensus of the fourth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Five-Year Action Plan (2023-27).

Preliminary statistics showed that during the operation, over 160 cases, mainly involving telecom fraud, were cracked down, more than 70,000 suspects were arrested, and over 160 victims were rescued.

The operation coordinated the law enforcement departments of Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to jointly combat regional telecom network fraud and its derivative crimes, as well as the smuggling of firearms and ammunition, achieving actual results.

The Lancang-Mekong River runs through the six countries, and serves as a natural bond that links the six countries together.

A summary meeting of the operation was held on Tuesday, attended by delegations from the law enforcement departments of the six countries. International organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police were also invited to attend.

All parties agreed that this joint operation consolidated the law enforcement resources of various countries, forming an effective synergy in combating and managing telecom network fraud and firearms and ammunition smuggling crimes within the region.

The parties recognized that the operation played an irreplaceable role as a regional law enforcement cooperation platform, achieving the expected results and effectively maintaining regional security and stability.

According to the CMG report, the center will launch the second phase of the joint operation "Seagull" this year, continuing to focus on combating telecom network fraud and its derivative crimes, with particular efforts to rescue missing and trapped individuals from various countries, thereby safeguarding the lives and property of people in the region and maintaining regional security and stability.