Cyber police and the NBTC jointly inspected three phone signal towers along the Thai-Malaysian border, aiming to cut off networks used by call center gangs and scammers from neighboring countries, and arrested illegal SIM card vendors.
On 11 March 2026, Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, and Police Lieutenant General Naradet Thiprak, Commander assigned to the Office of the Commissioner-General, ordered Police Major General Sila Kanjanarak, Commander of Technology Crime Suppression Division 5, Police Colonel Kugkiat Wongphan, Superintendent of Division 2, Division 5, along with Mr. Sutin Thongmak, Director of NBTC Region 41, local police units in Narathiwat province, officers from Division 2 of the Technology Crime Suppression Division 5, telecommunications operators, and signal leaseholders from True, AIS, and Dtac networks,
to collaborate on addressing technology-related crimes to protect public interests. They coordinated with relevant agencies to plan preventive measures and close loopholes exploited by criminals, especially by inspecting phone signal towers along the border to prevent aiding call center gangs and scammers in neighboring countries. They adjusted and repaired phone signal towers, reducing signal strength and changing antenna angles to keep signals within regulated areas. A planning meeting was held at Su-ngai Kolok Police Station, followed by joint inspections of signal stations and measurements of signal ranges at three border points.
The first location was at the Thai-Malaysian border area in Su-ngai Kolok district (Tha Ko Phai). The second was also in Su-ngai Kolok district (Praba community). The third point was again in Su-ngai Kolok district, where signal strength was reduced and antenna angles and intensities were adjusted on the service provider’s phone signal towers (Narathiwat province, Su-ngai Kolok).
They also instructed all telecommunications operators to comply with NBTC’s regulations, including signing additional agreements. Operators collaborated to share information and designate target areas related to SIM boxes for further police investigation. Operators will monitor for signal interference and make improvements according to the agreed measures with NBTC. In cases where targets are detected, all units will join joint operations for inspections.
Subsequently, police together with the NBTC, the Technology Crime Suppression Division, Narathiwat Provincial Police Investigation Unit, and Su-ngai Kolok Police Station conducted searches and arrested individuals at SIM card shops violating the Technology Crime Suppression Act, aiming to deter and close loopholes that call center gangs or scammer groups might exploit by using SIM cards for fraudulent activities such as online scams. Two suspects were apprehended.
The first suspect, Ms. Norhafisa Sammae, 33, was arrested at a shop in Su-ngai Kolok subdistrict, Su-ngai Kolok district, Narathiwat province, with 39 registered SIM cards and 500 baht in cash seized. The second, Ms. Sudarat Dao, 28, was arrested at a shop in the same area, with 3 registered SIM cards and 500 baht in cash confiscated.
They face charges for "organizing, advertising, or facilitating the purchase or sale of mobile phone numbers registered in someone’s name but where the user cannot be identified." The suspects and seized items were handed over to investigators at Su-ngai Kolok Police Station for legal proceedings.