After dismantling unauthorised cell towers and cross-border cables, Thai authorities have begun seizing Starlink terminals to fight cybercrime.
In a comprehensive effort to combat cybercrime, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MoDES) and other relevant agencies have collaborated to seize 58 sets of Starlink satellite communication equipment that were intended for fraudulent use.
ICES Minister Prasert Jantararuangthong said that measures to curb online crimes, especially dismantling unauthorised cell towers and cross-border cables, have forced criminal groups to change their methods to avoid checks and crackdowns. Therefore, the ministry and relevant agencies have adjusted their work and strengthened coordination with security agencies to counter the fraudsters.
The minister presented the seized Starlink equipment, which are satellite terminals for receiving and transmitting internet signals, at a press conference on Tuesday. The Central Bureau of Investigation, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, and state-owned National Telecom participated in the joint operation.
The Starlink devices, which were seized at a parcel delivery point in Chanthaburi province, were believed to be in the possession of a criminal gang involved in phone scams and an online casino network. Their intention was to smuggle the receivers to the Thai-Cambodian border and then distribute them to associates near the Myanmar border for use in online crime.
All the seized devices are considered to have been smuggled into the country for sale to circumvent customs procedures, which falls under the Customs Act 2017. In addition, on June 10, the Royal Thai Navy, represented by the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defence Command, inspected and seized six more boxes of Starlink satellite equipment kits. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission only authorises importing some of these devices into Thailand, which is illegal.
According to the ministry, online fraud losses were 110 million baht per day in April, down 26 per cent from 149 million baht per day in March. Thai authorities continue to fight cybercrime by cracking down on the illegal use of advanced technologies such as Starlink satellite internet.
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