Bhumjaithai Highlights Anutin Era Seizing Billions from Scammer Gangs, Criticizes Previous Governments for No Seizures

The Bhumjaithai party spokesperson praised the achievements during the 'Anutin' era, citing the seizure of over ten billion baht from scammer gangs. He noted that within two months of taking office, all problems were addressed. He questioned the Pheu Thai party whether their pressure to remove the Interior Minister was due to Anutin refusing to grant nationality to someone, and mocked previous governments for not seizing anything.

On 4 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Ms. Nan Bunyathida Somchai, MP for Ubon Ratchathani and spokesperson for the Bhumjaithai party, responded to comments by Mr. Suksit Srichomkwan, spokesperson for the Pheu Thai party, who raised questions about a photograph. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul , and Mr. Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith. Although it was clarified that the photo was old and they had met five or six times, implying the relationship was more than a casual encounter at an event, the government’s handling of call center scam gangs was questioned. Regarding the photo, various news agencies, including the Prime Minister, confirmed it was taken a long time ago and that their relationship was as friends of friends who greeted each other at events. Regarding Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akiniti Nitithanprapas, he explained that the photo was from five years ago when he lectured at a senior executive course of the Royal Thai Police. They did not know each other personally.

The Bhumjaithai party spokesperson continued, On 3 Dec 2025 GMT+7, the Prime Minister announced a major seizure of assets worth more than ten billion baht from scammer networks. It remains unclear why previous governments never managed to seize anything from these people. Furthermore, there was pressure on Anutin to leave his position as Minister of Interior and move to Minister of Public Health instead. Was this because Anutin refused to grant nationality to someone? Moreover, if the Pheu Thai party were not deliberately blind, they would have seen recent photos of someone dining with Ben Smith—photos taken this year, very fresh. Why haven't the Pheu Thai spokesperson or party members commented on this?

Regarding claims that Anutin was removed from the Ministry of Interior due to poor performance, such as delays in cutting water and electricity to call center scam gangs, waiting for ribbon-cutting ceremonies rather than issues related to nationality grants, the spokesperson said, he would like the Pheu Thai spokesperson to review the facts about who was chairman of the National Security Council (NSC) at that time, because the Ministry of Interior must receive orders from the NSC before cutting water or electricity. When the time came to cut utilities to the scammer gangs, some parties even rushed to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremonies and publicize them.

Regarding accusations that the Prime Minister mismanaged floodwaters, leaving hundreds of thousands of people flooded for four months, the spokesperson said that if one looks back to which government was in office during that time, Anutin had only been in office for two months but managed to resolve all issues. .