Thai PM urges unified regional efforts in combating transnational crime

BANGKOK, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday called for unified regional efforts to combat increasingly complex transnational crime, reaffirming Thailand's active role in the fight against scam operations.

In his opening remarks at the 43rd ASEAN Chiefs of National Police Conference in Bangkok, Anutin highlighted that drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and online scams are destabilizing societies, damaging economies, and undermining investor confidence.

Anutin acknowledged that these issues have positioned the ASEAN region as a focal point for criminal groups. However, he emphasized that ASEAN member nations recognize the challenge and are collectively committed to taking all necessary measures to restore safety to the region.

Referencing last week's ASEAN Summit, Anutin said regional leaders have prioritized strengthening security cooperation through enhanced intelligence sharing, joint training, and improved coordination mechanisms to counter these evolving threats.

Noting that the crackdown on transnational crime has been declared a national agenda, he said, "Thailand is fully committed to this shared spirit and vision and firmly believes that a holistic and comprehensive approach is key to addressing these complex challenges."

The prime minister also pointed to the Southeast Asian country's proactive global role, including signing the UN Convention against Cybercrime last month and successfully proposing "scams and cybercrime" as an urgent agenda item at a recent Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting.

These actions underscore Thailand's determination to not only participate but also to lead in addressing international issues, he said.

Running through Friday, the conference gathered more than 200 senior police officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, dialogue partners, and international law enforcement observers to exchange best practices and develop cooperation frameworks to enhance collective capabilities to combat transnational crime. Enditem