IN A crackdown on transmitting Internet signals to Myanmar’s Myawaddy township from Mae Sot border town, a hundred officials, police and soldiers raided six targeted spots and seized a lot of communication devices, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (June 28).
Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, acting secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBTC), together with regional officials, police and soldiers, first raided five commercial buildings downtown Mae Sot that appeared to be selling various merchandise but in reality were transmitting Internet signals to Myawaddy across the Moei river.
Aside from seizing a large number of communication devices, the managers of the five buildings were also rounded up for interrogation.
However at the most important target, right on the border at Phub Phra district, the wrongdoers were tipped off of this big official team heading there and cut internet cables buried underground before they reached.
Right across the border from this point is Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy’s district riddled with online scamming rackets and casinos operated by Chinese grey capitalists.
However police were able to seize a lot of evidence for further investigation.
Earlier police were able to turn seven cell phone towers towards Thailand and dismantled 366 base stations after they had been shifted towards Myawaddy across the border.
This followed House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategies & Reforms Chair Rangsiman Rome recently urging the Thai authorities, especially the Provincial Electricity Authority and National Broadcasting & Telecommunication Commission, to terminate the daily supplying of power and internet signals to Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy’s district gambling and crime zone.
CAPTION:
A big team of officials, police and soldiers raiding a key spot in Mae Sot where internet cables were strung across the Moei river to Myawaddy’s crime zone Shwe Kokko. Photos:Thai Rath
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