CHIANG MAI – China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos joined hands to start a special operation to combat rampant gambling-related fraud and its associated crimes in the region.

The initiative was unveiled in Chiang Mai, Thailand in a meeting on August 15 to 16, according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

A cooperation center for the operation will be established in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province.

The goal of the operation is to intensify efforts against crimes such as human trafficking, kidnapping, and illegal detention, all stemming from gambling and fraud activities prevalent in the region.

This initiative signifies a united front against the surge of telecommunications network scams and online gambling offenses, aiming to reverse the escalating crimes.

The meeting also explored the prospect of broadening cooperation to encompass Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as international entities like Interpol and the United Nations, according to the National News Bureau of Thailand.